Awards and bursaries

The Award aims to assist a basketmaker to start up and grow as an independent maker and business owner. We look for applicants who demonstrates entrepreneurial spirit, creative excellence and developed craft skills. The Company, in addition to supporting the Award financially, will be involved with the promotion and the selection of the recipient.

• Studio space for 1 year within the creative community at Cockpit.
• Business support services including one-to-one coaching and business development workshops.
• Selling and promotional opportunities, including two annual Cockpit Open Studios events.

A basket maker working in any craft discipline, who can demonstrate dedication to developing, nurturing and passing on their craft.

Watch this space for application openings.

Apply here

If you have any questions, check our FAQs page or contact us.

We particularly encourage applications from those who are underrepresented in craft including non-graduates, disabled, D/deaf and neurodiverse people, LGBTQ+ people, and people from Black, Asian and Global Majority backgrounds. We welcome applicants from a range of educational backgrounds and there is no minimum formal qualification for this programme.

The Worshipful Company of Basketmakers was constituted by the Court of Aldermen in 1569, granted a livery of thirty in 1825 and received its Royal Charter from George VI in 1937. The Company was formed to regulate the basketmaking trade in the City of London and in 1463 trade was concentrated in the manor of Blanche Appleton, in the area of the present Guild Church of St. Margaret Pattens. The Company not only possesses a superb collection, extending more than three centuries, of plate, regalia and records, but many examples of basketwork, including some miniature Madeira baskets presented by the late Princess Royal when she became an honorary Freeman as was the late Queen Mary. HRH the Duchess of Gloucester is currently an honorary Liveryman of the Company.