Up-and-coming artists from across Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk are being invited to apply for the 2024 Firstsite Collectors’ Group Bursary Awards.
These annual awards – which range between £100 and £1,000 per selected artist – are made possible through the Colchester gallery’s Collectors’ Group, which promotes engagement and interest in contemporary visual art.
This year, for the first time, artists from Norfolk will be eligible to apply, supporting even more creative talent from across the Eastern region.
The scheme supports emerging artists working within Essex, Suffolk, or Norfolk to advance their professional development. Applications to the Bursary Awards should demonstrate ambition, and a commitment to or development of the individual artist’s current practice. Proposals can be made to contribute towards the costs of making new artwork, purchase of equipment, research and travel, creating an exhibition and other forms of professional development.
The window for applications opens on 7 November and closes at 5pm on 8 December 2024. An application form can be downloaded from firstsite.uk/firstsite-collectors-group-bursary-awards-2024/
In 2023, the scheme invested over £,5000 in 8 artists working in a variety of fields, including performance, curation, glass, sculpture, film, sound, augmented reality, environment, weaving, painting and print.
Jane Hindley, Chair of the Collectors’ Group says: “The Collectors’ Group Bursary Awards continue to grow and evolve each year, showcasing an outstanding level of talent, professionalism, and diversity. We are delighted to expand the awards this year to include artists from Norfolk and we eagerly anticipate another year of exceptional submissions.“
Sally Shaw MBE, Firstsite Director says: “Over the past year, in celebration of the Bursary Awards’ 10th anniversary, we have been delighted to present works from a selection of artists who have received or applied for Bursary Awards in our exhibition, Concrete Dreams: Just Can’t Get Enough. The quality and diversity of the artworks truly demonstrate how these awards support artist growth and highlight the Collectors’ Group’s vital role in advancing contemporary visual art in the region, particularly in Essex and Suffolk.”
She adds: “For over a decade, the Collectors’ Group has empowered a diverse range of artists, helping them to push their work forward. It’s fantastic that artists in Norfolk will also have the opportunity to benefit this year. I encourage artists across all three counties to apply early to ensure they don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity!”
