The Henry Rothschild Memorial Ceramic Bursary is a biannual award of £5000 (£6000 in this final round) to a ceramic artist resident in the UK.
Set up by Henry’s daughter shortly after his death, the Bursary also received some initial funding from Northumbria University in Newcastle, as part of their partnership with Tyne and Wear Museums. A representative from the University’s Art department sits on the panel of judges, and Bursary recipients may also be given the opportunity to use facilities at the University where appropriate.
The award winner has two years to complete a body of work or particular project funded by the Bursary.
The winner of the 2020 bursary was Mella Shaw.
The 2023 Rothschild Bursary
To allow for inflation since the first Award was made, the Bursary for this fifth and final year will be £6000.
Thank you to all those who submitted applications by the deadline of 30th September 2023. The shortlist is currently being drawn up, and we will be in touch soon with those who we wish to interview in November.
Application criteria
Henry Rothschild had a reputation for supporting young emerging artists, but he was equally committed to the continuing development of an artist’s career.
For each round of the bursary we invite applications from all practitioners who work with clay and who have been out of full-time training for a period of up to five years. Applications are also invited from those with an established practice but without formal education or qualifications. Note that there are no applicant age restrictions.
The underlying aim of the Bursary is to give an artist the opportunity to develop their practice in ways in which they would not otherwise have the time or resources to do, enabling them to pursue new creative directions and ways of working.
The judging panel will want to a see a proposal that demonstrates a clear vision for a new direction in the work and/or development of current work.
NB: Please be aware that we are unlikely to fund the establishment of a first studio, or the initial cost of studio equipment unless it forms an integral part of the proposal.
The Bursary is not available for the funding of formal education courses, or for selling/promotional activities.
See details of the Bursary’s four previous winners.
Alison Cooke (Bursary winner 2016) writes:
The Bursary application process was straight forward. After being shortlisted I was invited to an interview at the Shipley Gallery. I was given the opportunity to choose and handle a piece from the Rothschild Ceramic Collection to talk about to the panel, before talking about my work and what I would do with the bursary. Although I was nervous, the panel were friendly and relaxed.”