Rosy James Memorial Trust Major Award 2026 — £20,000 for an Established Northern Ireland Craft Maker
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Rosy James Memorial Trust Major Award 2026 — £20,000 for an Established Northern Ireland Craft Maker

Arts Council of Northern Ireland

November 9, 2026 (40 publicSeo.openCall.daysLeft)Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

The Rosy James Memorial Trust Awards, administered by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland since 2014, come from a bequest of over £500,000 by Belfast arts patron Rosemary (Rosy) James to help craft makers create new bodies of work; past recipients include glass artist Scott Benefield and silversmiths Stuart Cairns and Cara Murphy.

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One Major Award of up to £20,000 (increased this year) to create an ambitious new body of craft work over about a year. Funding goes to the new body of work and may cover project assistance, materials and equipment, buying time to replace lost earned income, training fees, mentors, production and presentation costs, technical equipment, documentation, childcare, travel, residencies and subsistence (£25/day) and accommodation.

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Established craftspeople or designer-makers with national or international recognition seeking to develop extended or ambitious new work with a significant creative outcome. Craftspeople and designer-makers in Northern Ireland (the awards are announced for NI designer makers; full criteria in the Guidance Notes) who hold a degree or equivalent in a relevant area, trained as an apprentice in a craft discipline, or have practised professionally for at least three years. Only one award (Major or Emerging) may be applied for.

Dates & details

Deadline
12 noon (application form and enclosures by email)
Programme dates
About one year to develop the new body of work
Costs to the artist
None — the bursary covers the body of work
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£20,000 (one award)
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Free (no application fee)