Springboard Studios
The Springboard Studio programme was designed to help artists and craftspeople kickstart or develop their creative careers by offering free studios to emerging makers to be used for a period of 12 months as well as a stipend of £1000 and career support. Applications are currently closed, but please check back regularly for more funded places with us.
In 2025, we launched our first round of Springboard Studios and awarded places to Sara Rhys, Anna Ólafsson, and Scarlett Farrer.
Anna Ólafsson is a British-Icelandic artist and designer working across the fields of drawing, painting, printmaking, etching and engraving. She makes artworks from metal, paper and light, inspired by the natural world. She first heard about the Foundation through one of her mentors, acclaimed silversmith Rod Kelly.
Scarlett Farrer is a sustainability focused textile designer who’s dedicated her work to using British wool, preserving traditional skills and heritage crafts. She was recently awarded Young Weaver of the Year 2024 by Heritage Crafts and is looking forward to joining a community of creatives at the Foundation.
Sara Rhys first visited the studios after being commissioned by Hugo who loved her work. Soon after, Sara moved to the Borders permanently. Now joining us as a Springboard tenant, her work is heavily influenced by her environment and the stories found in nature. She is excited to see how it evolves during her time at HBF and is hoping to deepen her existing practice whilst being open to new directions.
Marchmont Silversmithing Workshop
We also launched the Springboard Silversmithing programme in the Marchmont Silversmithing Workshop. These places provide emerging silversmiths with a fully funded (free) workbench in the Marchmont Silversmithing Workshop for 12 months with the option to extend for a further 12 months with the agreement of HBF. In addition, HBF can offer affordable accommodation on-site or nearby.
The Marchmont Silversmithing Workshop houses a wide range of silversmithing equipment, including a large inventory of tools, machinery and books donated by the late Master silversmith Graham Stewart, which is all available for use by the Springboard tenants. The workshop is provided with all heating and electricity included and is accessible 24/7. From summer 2025 HBF will offer a silver loan scheme to all springboard tenants via an account with Argex.
Masterclasses are provided and funded each year by HBF (min four sessions) with experienced silversmiths who visit and stay onsite. Previous masterclasses have been provided by Abigail Brown, Rod Kelly, Brett Payne, Simone Ten Hompel, Gordon Hamme and Bryony Knox.
Springboard silversmiths will join the larger creative community at the Hugo Burge Foundation, which includes potters, illustrators, weavers, chair-makers, sculptors and artists visiting on our monthly residencies. A regular Artists' Lunch is hosted each month, fully catered, as a way of encouraging community and collaboration between the artists, makers and staff team onsite. Springboard tenants are expected to contribute to this community during their time here, participating in Open Studios and social events, and offering talks or workshops where appropriate.
To apply, silversmiths must have at least three years of experience post-graduation of a degree programme or equivalent experience. Given the workshop facilities, the panel will prioritise silversmiths over makers who have jewellery as their main output.