A country-wide conservation tour offering committed craftspeople hands-on experience in the repair of historic buildings is what is on offer for successful applicants for the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) 2018 William Morris Craft Fellowship.
Up to four successful candidates will travel together across the country to learn more about traditional building crafts from masters of the trades. This is said to be the only scheme of its kind.
The Society says it is looking for craftspeople with a passion for old buildings and conservative repair. It says that applicants must have completed their apprenticeship and demonstrate a high level of competence.
The Fellowship is said to be an advanced training programme, devised to encourage and nurture craftspeople at the beginning of their careers who are employed in any trade relating to the repair of historic buildings. The programme is said to be very relevant now, given the lack of skilled people needed to care for Britain’s historic buildings and structures. The six-month practical training is divided into three blocks of two months, enabling the Fellows to return to their employment between each block. During the first two blocks the Fellows travel as a group, making daily site visits, studying repair projects and meeting professionals, contractors and craftspeople. The final block is devoted to the individual needs and interests of each Fellow in consultation with their employers.
Since 1986, SPAB has organised and administered the Fellowship to promote and develop the specialised skills required for the repair and maintenance of historic buildings and to promote understanding of the importance of conservative repair. Former Fellows have included carpenters, masons, thatchers, plasterers, leadworkers and glaziers.
There are no course fees as training and administration costs are borne by SPAB as part of the award. Fellows also receive a bursary in the region of £5,800 towards basic travel and living expenses. The packed 2018 programme will run from March to December.
SPAB is inviting applications now for the 2018 William Morris Craft Fellowship. For further information or to obtain an application form, please visit www.spab.org.uk/education-training/fellowship/ or email: education@spab.org.uk.
The closing date for applications is 1 December 2017 and interviews are held at 37 Spital Square, London, in January 2018.
