New Career Catalyst Grants launched for Mid-Career Jewellers and Silversmiths to pursue ambitious Learning Experiences
The Career Catalyst Grant is an exciting and competitive new initiative, delivered by the Goldsmiths’ Centre and supported by the Goldsmiths’ Company Charity and the Radcliffe Trust, to enable mid-career jewellers, silversmiths and others working in the allied industries to innovate and grow their knowledge and skills through ambitious learning experiences.
Grants of up £5,000 (including VAT) will enable successful applicants to take time out of their daily routine to focus on their creative development. The grants are designed to encourage craftspeople (with five plus years’ experience) to immerse themselves in an unfamiliar environment and develop an innovative approach to their practice. This could be through international travel, skills training or experimenting with collaborators, helping them to create new work and enrich the goldsmithing industry as a whole.
“I applied for a Career Development Grant to the Winston Churchill Trust so I could experience another way of making. The reason why I chose Japan was to try and find another place that was doing similar crafts, but had evolved in a different way of making things as well as a different aesthetic. My experience in Japan has influenced my work in a lot of ways.”
– Castro Smith, Jeweller & Engraver, Former Goldsmiths’ Company Apprentice
“The Goldsmiths’ Centre’s Career Catalyst Grants are designed to offer craftspeople the chance to keep innovating and growing their skills and knowledge. Our judging panel are looking for makers who are aiming to implement a real step change in their practice and work in new, innovative ways.”
– Julia Skilton, Educational Partnership Officer, The Goldsmiths' Centre
A prestigious judging panel, consisting of Goldsmiths’ Centre Trustees and industry experts, will review all applications, which must be submitted by Monday 4 May 2020.