Deadline: 12 August 2024
The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) offers Scholarships for the training and education of talented craftspeople to sustain vital skills in traditional and contemporary crafts and contribute to excellence in the British craft industry.
In addition to the Scholarship funding, QEST funds a place for all successful Scholars on a Professional Development Programme, created in partnership with Cockpit – London’s leading studios for contemporary craft and the UK’s only business incubator for makers and designers.
Funding Information
- A scholarship of up to £18,000
- A funded place on the Cockpit Professional Development Programme.
- The type of activities they fund includes:
- Traditional college courses
- Further education (e.g. an MA or practice-led PhD)
- Short courses
- One-to-one training
- A bespoke programme of training
- A combination of the above
What they support?
- This programme supports the advanced skill development of craft professionals through the funding of craft training.
- The training can take many forms, from traditional college courses to vocational one-on-one training with a master craftsperson, or a bespoke programme of short courses.
What they do not fund?
- Performing arts
- Audio arts
- Literary arts
- Body arts
- Art Psychotherapy
- Trades (e.g. plumbing)
Who can apply?
- They welcome applications from all talented craftspeople, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or nationality; and particularly encourage those with protected characteristics that are under-represented in the craft sector to apply.
- They support makers who identify their practice within the field of craft and whose practice has a strong connection to materials, technical skills and processes.
- Applicants must be:
- aged 18 or above at the time of application.
- able to demonstrate a high level of skill, a strong body of work and experience within their chosen field.
- living in the UK with the right to reside either permanently or on a long-term basis (with the option of visa renewal or citizenship).
- intending to continue to practice in the UK and contribute to the UK craft industry.
- If you do not reach the interview stage, you can reapply in the next round.
- If you are unsuccessful at the interview stage, you need to wait at least a year from the date of your application before you re-apply.
For more information, visit QEST.
