Rosy James Memorial Trust Awards
Application Deadline: Mon 9th Nov, 2026, 12:00PM
The Arts Council is currently transitioning to a new application portal.
As and when new funding programmes open and you apply using the new application portal for the first time, you will be required to create a new application account.
Guidance on how to create a new application account is available here: https://artscouncil-ni.s3-assets.com/How-to-sign-into-the-new-Grants-portal-guidance-Individuals.pdf
Rosy James Memorial Trust Awards
Rosemary (Rosy) James died in 2010, having bequeathed over £500,000 to establish an annual bursary in her name to help artists, designers and makers to pursue their careers by developing a new body of work in craft disciplines.
This unique bursary aims to support craft makers in developing their careers by enabling them to create a new body of work that would otherwise be unattainable without funding.
This year, the Major Award has increased to £20,000, and we have also introduced three Emerging Maker Awards worth £5,000 each.
The Major Award is aimed at established craftspeople or designer-makers with national or international recognition who are seeking to develop or create ambitious new work. The proposed project should result in a significant creative outcome.
The Emerging Maker Awards are aimed at craft practitioners or designer-makers who are in the early stages of their professional careers within their chosen craft discipline. Applicants should be developing their artistic voice and beginning to establish a reputation and recognition among critics, galleries and other relevant audiences. They will typically have practised professionally for less than five years.
Who can apply?
All applicants should meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Crafts people and designer /makers with a degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant area,
- Or Craftspeople and designer /makers who have trained as an apprentice in a craft discipline,
- Or Craftspeople and designer /makers practicing professionally for at least three years
Who can apply for the Emerging Artist Scheme?
- An emerging craftsperson or designer /maker is in the early stage of their professional career in their chosen craft discipline. They are developing their artist ‘voice’ and are in the process of establishing a reputation and recognition among critics, galleries, etc, and will have practiced as a professional artist for less than five years.
Who can apply for the Major Artist Scheme?
- To be eligible for the Major Award Scheme applicants should be an established craftsperson or designer / maker with national / international recognition, seeking to develop extended or create ambitious work. The proposal should result in a significant creative outcome.
Additional criteria for all applicants is available in the Guidance Notes.
What can you apply for?(Major and Emerging)
The main thrust is to be directed towards the body of work and may include
- Project assistance
- Art materials/equipment
- Buying time to replace other earned income costs lost due to time spent on the intended project/creating new work *. Eg, if you were taking unpaid leave from work to spend time on the proposed project
- Fees for training courses
- Artistic fees of Mentors
- Artistic or technical fees including those towards production or post-production costs associated with presentation or exhibition of work
- Technical equipment related to the project/proposal
- Documentation costs
- Childcare costs
- Project-related travel costs, including mileage costs (@25.7p per mile), commuter and air travel
- Residencies
- Subsistence costs @£25 per day.
- Accommodation costs
- Residency costs
Can I apply for both an emerging maker award and a major award?
You may only apply for one award, please indicate on the application form if you are applying for a major or an emerging award.
An emerging craftsperson or designer /maker is in the early stage of their professional career in their chosen craft discipline. They are developing their artist ‘voice’ and are in the process of establishing a reputation and recognition among critics, galleries, etc, and will have practiced as a professional artist for less than 5 years.
How to apply
Complete and return the application form, ALL relevant enclosures and supporting material as specified by email to [email protected]
Completed forms must be received by the Arts Council by 12noon on Monday 9th November 2026.
Making an application
Prior to submission of your application, you may seek advice on any aspect of the form from the Arts Council Visual Arts team. Suzanne Lyle is the Head of Visual Arts and a Rosy James Memorial Trust member. She can be contacted at [email protected]. You must apply by email. We will not accept applications in hard copy. Send your completed application form and all the requested mandatory enclosures to [email protected]
If you are d/Deaf, disabled, or neurodivergent, University of Atypical can provide support with completing your application. Please contact, University of Atypical as soon as possible to ensure sufficient time for the support process. Phone: 028 90239450; Email: [email protected].
- You must submit all mandatory enclosures associated with the application at the same time as your application. Please refer to pages 9 and 10 for further guidance.
- Applications will not be accepted after the closing date of 12noon on Monday 9th November 2026.
- If you submit your application by the closing deadline, you will receive an email advising that your application has been successfully received.
Please remember that it is your responsibility to ensure that we receive the application form and enclosures by the closing time and date.