Firstsite Collectors’ Group Bursary Awards 2026

30th October 2026

The Firstsite Collectors’ Group Bursary Awards scheme aims to support artists working in Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire with their professional career development. These annual awards are made possible through the Collectors’ Group continuing engagement and interest in contemporary visual art in the region.

Applications to the Bursary Awards scheme should demonstrate ambition, and a commitment to, or development of the applicant’s current artistic practice.

Proposals can be made to contribute towards the costs of making new artwork, purchase of equipment, research and travel, exhibition making and other forms of professional development.

To register, please fill out the form: Firstsite Collectors’ Group Bursary Awards 2026 Application Form and send it to [email protected].

In 2025, 12 winners across East Anglia were awarded £5,000 between them.

Criteria:

• Firstsite Collectors’ Group Bursary Awards are open to individuals only.

• Applicants must be based in Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk or Cambridgeshire.

• The Collectors’ Group will consider applications for between £100 and £1,000.

• Applications should be made using the Collectors’ Group Bursary Awards application form and emailing it back to [email protected].

• Applications can be made as a word document or exported pdf, via a picture collage, a 5 minute (or less) raw video or audio files in response to the questions in the application form, and sent to [email protected].

• The closing date for applications is 5pm, 22 November 2026. Applications received after this time will not be considered.

• We are unlikely to fund a similar project that was previously awarded a bursary by the same artist in two consecutive years.

• We do not fund the displaying of artwork (for example, framing, fabrication, display cases), unless it is inherent to the production of the artwork itself.

• We do not fund documentaries or news-based films.

• We do not fund photography intended to document the installation of shows and/or artwork, or for the purposes of portfolio development

• We do not fund travel for overseas work.

If you have any questions, please get in touch at [email protected] and we’ll be happy to help.

Please note due to the high number and calibre of applications we receive, applicants will be informed of the panel’s decision in January 2027.