Grants & Bursaries

The RFS welcomes applications from members and non-members for occasional grants up to £5,000, research bursaries up to £750, and event bursaries covering 50% of the fee to attend a RFS event. Each has separate guidelines and application forms. Please ensure that you apply for the appropriate type.

You can see a list of successful awards brought to completion 2004-2021 here

Grants

The Society is able to offer occasional grants up to a maximum of £5,000 towards projects that further the objectives of the Society. Grants will normally be made only in those cases where the project cannot be undertaken without funding from the Society. Grants are made once in each calendar year. The deadline for receipt of applications each year is 31st January. You do not need to be a member of the Society to apply for a grant.

Read the full guidelines and download the application form here:

RFS Grant application form and guidelines 2019 (pdf)

RFS Grant application form and guidelines (2019) Word docx)

Research Bursaries

The RFS welcomes applications for financial support towards research into regional furniture.

A small number of bursaries of up to £750 each are awarded annually. These are designed to encourage and support research projects related to regional furniture, with a view to publication. The research may be undertaken as part of a university or college course requirement, or as an entirely independent exercise.

Janet Dewdney bursaries (up to £750), are awarded specifically for research into early furniture and woodwork, with a view to publication. A Janet Dewdney bursary may be combined with a standard bursary to give a total award of up to £1500.

Chris Pickvance bursaries (up to £2,000) are awarded specifically for research (with a view to publication) into pre-1500 chests in Britain (including imported chests but not aspects of post-Mediaeval afterlife such as 19th century attitudes or antiquarian creations). A Chris Pickvance bursary may be combined with a Janet Dewdney bursary (but not a standard bursary as well) to give a total award of up to £2,750.

There are two rounds for applications each year. The deadlines are 31 January and 31 July.

Eligibility

Individual members of the Regional Furniture Society and students at member colleges/universities are eligible to apply. Non-members are eligible to apply for a bursary once only, and will also receive one year’s free membership.
Research into any aspect of regional furniture will be considered. Please see About the RFS on the society’s website for information about its aims and activities.
The award may be used to assist with travel, photography, technical analyses such as dendrochronology or paint microscopy, or any other essential expenses associated with the research.

Download the application form here:

RFS Research Bursary Application Form (Word docx)

RFS Research Bursary application form (pdf)

Event, conference and Study Day bursaries

Event bursaries normally cover 50% of the fee to attend a RFS event, study day or the annual conference. These bursaries are designed to encourage interest in the field and support early-career professional members and students, particularly those who are new to the subject. Individual members of the Regional Furniture Society and students at member colleges/universities are eligible to apply. Non-members are eligible to apply for an Event bursary once only.

Applications should be submitted at least a month before the event. Late applications will be considered only where possible.

Successful applicants will be expected to submit, within one month of the event, a short note and photograph for the Society’s Newsletter.

Download the application form here:

Conference/study day bursaries (Word docx version)

Conference / study day bursaries (pdf)