The Incorporation of Weavers of Glasgow are delighted to announce the successful applicants of the 2011 Scholarship

As you will be aware, over the years the weaving industry in Scotland has been depleted. There are, however, some companies in the Scottish Borders & in the far North which, despite the downturn, are still managing to keep their heads above water.

Sadly there are fewer & fewer jobs for graduating textile students in Scotland, many of them go abroad to find work. The Master Court, ever mindful of their duty towards the weaving industry, launched a fund in 2006 which offers a scholarship specifically for weavers in Scotland, post graduation. It was decided that this would run biennially.

The aim is to help further the career of established weavers, for example by assisting towards buying a piece of equipment, or allowing them to travel, which would extend their visual experience and expand their understanding of other weaving cultures in the world.

This year, because of the high standard of work presented, we decided to offer the award to three applicants

Chantal Balmer   Sara Keith   & Naomi Anthoney Robertson

Chantal Balmer was a graduate of the Glasgow School of Art in 2001, and is currently working as a technician in the GSA. She was keen to expand her own weaving business and required help to assist her in buying her own loom for that purpose.

Sara Keith graduated from GSA in 1990. Along with a freelance textile business she also works as a visiting lecturer at Edinburgh College of Art. She applied to the Incorporation for funds to buy a specialised Takadai Japanese loom. Sara hopes to produce innovative silver fibre textiles from this purchase & hopes to show her work at the Incorporation’s Choosing Dinner in November.

Naomi Anthoney Robertson  graduated from Edinburgh College of Art in 1990. Her forte is tapestry weaving, indeed she is a master weaver at the Dovecot Studios in Edinburgh. Naomi travelled to India to study & research the weaving industry of that country, & looked to us for help to buy yarns to produce stunning tapestry works from her travels

We congratulate all worthy winners and we look forward to seeing their work at the Incorporation’s Choosing Dinner on 24^th November 2011