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WHAT WE OFFER

Supporting innovation in ceramic sculpture

Established in 2020 by the family of ceramic artist Stephanie Wright, the Making Waves Ceramics Trust has been created to provide innovative artists with financial support to hone their techniques and establish themselves in the world of ceramic sculpture.

We are offering grants to bold ceramicists who need some support in either taking a brand new direction in their career, or establishing themselves as an innovative artist. We want to provide a helping hand to those who are pushing their craft and moving in to uncharted territory.

Grants can be awarded for various purposes, whether that’s to cover equipment needed to fully realise an idea, take part in further training to develop specific skills, provide studio space or support ceramicists with living costs whilst a new portfolio of work is established. 

Applicants must be Ceramic artists with 3+ years of experience as a maker, aged 18+ and based in the UK.

*Applications are currently closed, please continue to check the website for future application deadlines*

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ABOUT US

The Making Waves Ceramics Trust was set up in honour of our mother, wife and friend Stephanie Wright, whose career in pottery spanned over forty years. Starting as a self-taught tableware potter, it would be thirty years before Stephanie embarked on an art training course at City Lit in London, graduating in 2011 with a Ceramics Diploma. As a ceramic artist, she searched for new ways of adapting traditional techniques, developing a distinctive body of work with themes of human movement, dance, and emotions ever-present. She was excited by new ways of using clay and glazes, and took inspiration from the everyday objects and environments that surround us.

In 2014 she was told she had a life-limiting disease; but rather than down tools she became more productive than ever, pushing herself to achieve her ceramic ambitions.

Her trademark technique of slicing thrown creations to reveal figures dancing within waves was recognised widely, and the enthusiasm for this innovative method spurred her on to continue working until it became physically impossible, just 8 weeks before her death.

Stephanie wanted her legacy to live on beyond her pieces. Before she passed away she created a charitable trust to support up-and-coming artists who show an innovative creativity in the world of ceramics.

We - her family, friends and fellow artists - are committed to honouring her legacy and supporting ceramicists to fully realise their potential.

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HOW TO APPLY

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Download by clicking the link above. Once complete, send the form to makingwavestrust@yahoo.com, along with up to 5 images of your work and your CV

INTERVIEW STAGE

Applications will be assessed by the trustees and an advisory board of artists & ceramicists. We will then interview a select number of shortlisted candidates, over the phone or face to face

GRANT AWARDED

The trustees and advisory board will consult and agree on who to award the grant

KEEPING IN CONTACT

Each grantee will be required to have regular check-ins with trustees on how the grant is benefitting them

STEPHANIE'S STORY

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TRUSTEES

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AMANDA WRIGHT

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MATTHEW WRIGHT

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NICK WRIGHT

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ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS

CHRIS FORSEY

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ADAM AARONSON

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RICH MILLER

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JANE WHITE

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TERRI SMART

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at makingwavestrust@yahoo.com

HOW MANY GRANTS WILL WE ISSUE A YEAR?

As a rough guide, we’d expect to issue 2 grants a year, with application deadlines opening every 6 months.

WILL WE OFFER ANYTHING MORE THAT FINANCIAL SUPPORT?

In addition to the grants themselves, we have a wider ambition to help the ceramicists we work with get exposure and showcase the work that has been enabled by the Trust. We have a wide network of artists and ceramicists, some of whom will also be on the advisory board, so hope to be able to support grantees in getting further exposure.

WHAT'S THE CRITERIA FOR APPLYING?

We're looking for applicants that demonstrate an ambition to develop innovative techniques, to take a successful or novel idea to the next stage or to move beyond their existing practice. 


Applicants must be Ceramic artists with 3+ years of experience as a maker, aged 18+ and based in the UK.

HOW MUCH MONEY ARE YOU OFFERING?

Each grant will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and the amounts awarded will vary depending on their individual needs. However, a rough guide would be a value of £1,000 to £5,000.

I'VE APPLIED FOR A GRANT, WHEN WILL I HEAR IF I'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL?

Depending on the level of applications received, we will endeavour to inform applicants on the outcome within 4 weeks of the deadline.

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“As you gain mastery over something
you can offer more to the people around you”

Stephanie Wright

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