Heritage Crafts and The Royal Mint launch training bursary

The Royal Mint has partnered with Heritage Crafts to launch four bursaries to “preserve and champion” traditional British craftsmanship skills in precious metals. 

It comes as Heritage Crafts said that many are dissuaded from training in precious metal heritage crafts because of the cost, and therefore “the make-up of the sector is not truly representative of the mix of backgrounds that make up the UK as a whole”. 

In light of this, the bursary has been set up to help cover or subsidise the cost of training for someone who would otherwise be prevented from pursuing this career path as a result of the cost.

Early- to mid-career craftspeople have until 5pm on Friday 10 March to apply for up to £4,000 to start training in a precious metal craft or to further develop their skills.

Successful applicants will be supported by the Heritage Crafts team to develop an action plan, and staff will work with them to monitor progress.

Grants can be used to pay a craftsperson trainer, attend a specialist training course, or undertake a self-directed programme of training with one or more craftspeople. 

Precious metals crafts are those which feature precious metal as a primary material. They can include jewellery making, silversmithing, coppersmithing, gilding, hand engraving, medal making, silver spinning, metal thread embroidery, engine turning (guilloché), concert flute making.

The Royal Mint said it hopes to “utilise its expertise in craftsmanship to ensure that precious metal craft skills, such as silversmithing, hand engraving and brass instrument making, are passed onto the next generation of master craftspeople”.

Anne Jessopp, CEO of The Royal Mint, said: “As an exemplar of British craftsmanship, we believe we have a duty to promote, protect and celebrate British craftsmanship, which is why I am extremely proud to announce the launch of the bursary scheme in partnership with Heritage Crafts.” 

Jay Blades, co-chair of Heritage Crafts, added: “We are so excited to announce the launch of our partnership with The Royal Mint. Their passion for the preservation of British craftsmanship aligns so well with the reason we exist in the first place. We believe these bursaries will help provide unique opportunities to precious metals craftspeople that would not have been possible before.”

source https://www.jewelleryfocus.co.uk/209821-heritage-crafts-and-the-royal-mint-launch-training-bursary