Maker Relief Fund applications now open

Hardship funding for heritage craft professionals

Many craftspeople are facing significant challenges in sustaining their practice, due to a combination of financial pressures and systemic marginalising factors. Heritage Crafts' Maker Relief Fund is targeted at people facing severe financial hardship while striving to make their living as a professional craftsperson.

The fund will award 50 grants of £1,000 over a 12-month period to practising professional craftspeople who are based in the UK, are over the age of 18, are struggling financially, and who consider themselves to be in one or more of the following categories:

• people on low incomes
• working class people
• Black and ethnically diverse people, including Gypsy, Roma and Travellers
• people with disabilities, who identify as neuro-diverse, and/or have chronic physical or mental health issues
• members of the LGBTQIA+ community
• people with caring responsibilities

Recipients will be identified from all the eligible entries received by midnight on the 15th day of each month, between November 2024 and October 2025 inclusive.

Grants do not have to be used for business costs; they can be used for general living costs or other purposes according to the recipient's needs.

For more details and to make a submission, visit the Heritage Crafts website.

First published 24 October 2024