1327 Fund: Career Catalyst Grants Launched at The Goldsmiths' Centre

Thanks to Members’ contributions to the 1327 Fund, an exciting and competi-tive new initiative has been delivered by the Goldsmiths’ Centre and supported by the Radcliffe Trust. The Career Catalyst Grants will 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 5+ 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 collabora-tors, helping them to create new work and enrich the goldsmithing industry as a whole.

Former Goldsmiths’ Company Apprentice, jeweller and engraver Castro Smith, helped to inspire the development of the Goldsmiths’ Centre’s Career Catalyst Grant through his travel to Japan in 2018. He commented: “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.” 

Julia Skilton, Educational Partnership Officer for the Goldsmiths’ Centre explains: “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.”