Visual Arts awards
Visual arts awards at the BSR offer artists access to Rome and Italy as an exceptional repertory of the visual culture of the past, and encourage informed and innovative responses to that cultural heritage. They offer artists at different stages of their careers the superb opportunity to research and focus on their work away from normal pressures, and to use the BSR as a base to explore Rome and Italy.
Awards include accommodation and board in one of our purpose-designed artist’s studios which include a mezzanine bedroom and ensuite bathroom.
Rome Fellowship in Contemporary Art
The Rome Fellowship in Contemporary Art is a valuable new opportunity for an early-career artist, working in any discipline, who has a significant track record of exhibiting.
Duration: 3 months (October-December 2013)
Research and travel grant: £1,500/month; plus a grant towards a short pre-residency visit to the BSR.
Specific award criteria:
- Applicants must be of British or Commonwealth nationality, or have been working professionally or studying at postgraduate level for at least the last 3 years in the UK or Commonwealth (i.e. since January 2010).
- Selection for this Scholarship is by a panel including Nicholas Berwin, Sacha Craddock, William Cobbing, Caroline Douglas, John Gill and Mark Wallinger
- Further information on this Fellowship is available by clicking here; and the application form can be downloaded by clicking here.
Application fee: £25. (This also covers the Derek Hill Foundation Scholarship and the Sainsbury Scholarship in Painting and Sculpture, if eligible and application submitted by their closing date.)
Deadline: 26 February 2013.
Derek Hill Foundation Scholarship
This Scholarship is funded by the Derek Hill Foundation. Derek Hill had a love of Italy and was Adviser to the artists at the British School at Rome in 1953-4 and 1957-8: this Scholarship is founded in his memory. It aims to encourage artists for whom the use of paint and/or drawing is central to their practice.
Duration: 3 months (October-December 2013).
Research and travel grant: approx. £940/month plus travel allowance of £176 and contribution towards the transport of work of £184.
Specific award criteria:
- Applicants must be of British or Irish nationality.
- Applicants must be aged 24 or over on 1 September 2013.
- Selection for this Scholarship is by members of the Faculty of the Fine Arts of the BSR together with a representative of the Derek Hill Foundation.
- Further information upon this Scholarship is available by clicking here; and an application form can be downloaded by clicking here.
Application fee: £25. (This also covers the Rome Fellowship in Contemporary Art and the Sainsbury Scholarship in Painting and Sculpture, if eligible.)
Deadline:31 January 2013
Sainsbury Scholarship in Painting and Sculpture
Funded by the Linbury Trust, this Scholarship is open to promising and ambitious painters and sculptors of outstanding potential, who will also be able to submit a portfolio of recent drawings.
Duration: 12 months (October 2013-September 2014)
Research grant: £700/month; plus travel grant of £1,200
Specific award criteria
- Applicants must be under 30 on 1 October 2013.
- Applicants must have graduated in fine art (or expect to have graduated in fine art before 1 October 2013).
- Applicants must be of British nationality, or have been working professionally or studying at postgraduate level for at least the last 5 years in the UK or Commonwealth (i.e. since January 2008).
- Applicants must be able to demonstate an intention, upon completion of the Scholarship, to work in the UK or otherwise contribute to the wider UK artistic community.
- Applicants must be able to show the importance of a residency in Rome for their practice; and keen to share the benefits of membership of a vibrant residential community of artists and researchers.
- Selection for this Scholarship is by a panel appointed by the Linbury Trust.
- Further information upon this Scholarship is available by clicking here.
- An application form is available by clicking here
Application fee: £25. (This also covers the Rome Fellowship in Contemporary Art and the Derek Hill Foundation Scholarship, if eligible.)
Deadline: 31 January 2013.
Abbey Fellowships in Painting
Open to mid-career painters with an established record of achievement.
Duration: 3 months.
Research grant: £800 per month
Application fee: £25 or $50.
Specific award criteria:
- Applicants must be citizens of the UK or USA or of other nationality provided resident in either country for at least 5 years.
- Information and all application materials are available at: www.abbey.org.uk
Deadline: 14 January 2013.
Abbey Scholarship in Painting
Open to exceptionally promising early-career painters.
Duration: 9 months (October 2013-June 2014).
Research and travel grant: £700 per month
Application fee: £25 or $50.
Specific award criteria:
- Applicants must be citizens of the UK or USA or of other nationality provided resident in either country for at least 5 years.
- Information and all application materials are available at: www.abbey.org.uk
Deadline: 14 January 2013.
Creative Scotland Document Fellowship – Photography
Creative Scotland and the British School at Rome invite applications for a Creative Futures fellowship in creative documentary photography at the British School at Rome, January to March 2014.
Deadline: 5pm Monday 19 August 2013
Please click here for further information on how to apply.
Creative Scotland Document24 Fellowship – Film
Creative Scotland and the British School at Rome invite applications for a Creative Futures fellowship in creative documentary film at the British School at Rome, January to March 2014.
Deadline: 5pm Monday 19 August 2013
Please click here for further information on how to apply.
Australia Council Residencies
Open to visual artists who are Australian citizens or have permanent resident status in Australia.
Duration: 3 months.
Further information: Visual Arts Board, Australia Council, PO Box 788, Strawberry Hills NSW 2012, Australia,
General Visual Arts Selection Criteria
In making an appointment to an award the Faculty of the Fine Arts will assess all applications using the following set of criteria:
- the quality of the applicant’s creative output and the appropriateness of their qualifications
- the extent to which the applicant’s proposal reflects the purpose of the award
- the viability of the proposal as a project to be carried out with support from the BSR.
In addition to these three basic selection criteria, the selectors will take into consideration the potential for the award to impact on the applicant’s creative development and will attempt to ensure that the needs and interests of the successful applicant are compatible with the facilities available at the BSR and the interests of its community.
Credit will be given to those who are no longer in full- or part-time education at the time of application.
Candidates are expected to have some knowledge of Italian or be willing to learn. Those who acknowledge the importance of communicating with Italians will derive the most benefit from being at the School.





