Funding opportunities available to Fine Art students.
Bartlett Funding Opportunities
Fine Art students can apply to two small pots of Department funding:
1. Bartlett Sustainable Practice Award 2025
The aim of the Bartlett Sustainable Practice Award is to inspire students to explore practice-led approaches to climate conscious and sustainable making. There will be prizes available, each which will be awarded through open submission to UG and MFA Fine Art students for practices that reflect critically on ideas in relation to sustainable making.
The aim of the project is also to address the climate emergency as a key challenge through production, presentation and discursive framing of contemporary art practices. The Fine Art department works towards best practice principles in climate aware arts education in line with Newcastle University’s Vision Statement (LINK), that recognises environmental sustainability as a strategic goal.
To find information about the funding scheme Click
Information on how to apply for the Bartlett Sustainable Practice Award 2025 will be announced soon.
2. Bartlett Off-Site fund.
This fund supports student-initiated collaborative and group projects taking place off campus. Projects must involve at least 3 NCL Fine Art students and can involve participants from other Art Schools . Open to BA and MA students. Single award are typically £50 – £250s and will not exceed £500 with a max of £100 per participating NCL Fine Art student. The fund is run by Nick Fox. Email applications to nick.fox@newcastle.ac.uk.
Venice Fellowship Programme: APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN!
Do you want to be part of the British Pavilion at the next Venice Biennale in 2026? There is a fantastic opportunity for two FULLY FUNDED month long student fellowships open to ALL students in the Fine Art department. Two students will be selected from our Fine Art department to work with student colleagues from other departments across the UK.
The deadline for applications is Wednesday, 12 November 2025, 5pm. Late applications cannot be accepted. Please read the attached material and attend a British Council webinar. You can also contact Katarzyna Falecka for more information (katarzyna.falecka@newcastle.ac.uk).
What is the Venice Fellowship Programme?
The British Council is excited to welcome applications for its Venice Fellowships Programme to take place during the 61th International Art Exhibition la Biennale de Venezia in 2026 (the Venice Art Biennale). The Venice Fellowships Programme is a unique opportunity for creative individuals, students, researchers, artists at the start of their careers, to spend a month in Venice during one of the world’s most important art biennales. Successful applicants will spend one month in Venice to develop a proposed project and will also gain work experience acting as an exhibition ambassador for Lubaina Himid’s exhibition at the British Pavilion. Fellows will have the opportunity to engage with an international community of artists, researchers, art entrepreneurs, young leaders and change makers, and also contribute with a proposed project. The fellowship month can be taken between April and November 2026 with the dates decided by the British Council.
Who can apply?
All students in the Fine Art department above the age of 18.
The British Council welcomes creative individuals from all backgrounds, areas of knowledge and/or academic departments, and they particularly welcome applications from underrepresented groups in the creative sector, including those from the following: global ethnic minority, disabled, LGBTQIA+, and those facing social barriers to accessing the arts, the creative industries, and other economic opportunities.
How do I apply?
1) Download the Application Form as a Word document and complete it.
2) Include a copy of your CV with the Application Form.
3) Complete the Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form. This is voluntary and anonymous.
We welcome applications in written, audio or video format. Please use the method that is most comfortable for you. More information can be found in the Application Form above.
Deadline: 5 pm, 12 November 2025. Please send your documents to katarzyna.falecka@newcastle.ac.uk
In the interest of fairness, late applications will not be accepted.
How can I find out more about the Fellowship Programme and what’s expected?
Please read the attached document, and follow the links it contains.
Any other questions?
If you have any questions about the programme or the application process, please contact Katarzyna Falecka via email: katarzyna.falecka@newcastle.ac.uk . We recommend that you also attend a webinar organised by the British Council to find out more about this opportunity:
Webinar: Monday, 20th October 2025, 12pm-1pm. Register here: Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams (this webinar has been postponed to Monday 3 November, noon)
You can find more information about the fellowships alongside fellows’ reports, which the British Council are sharing with applicants, under this link.
Forshaw Funding Opportunities
The Newcastle University Forshaw Fine Art Residency at the British School at Rome
- The award includes accommodation in one of the BSR’s study bedrooms from 13 to 28 July 2026, as well as breakfast and dinner (Monday-Friday) with other award holders and residents.
- In addition to accommodation and meals, the successful applicant will receive financial help with travel, insurance, BSR membership, subsistence and material costs.
- Details about the award, deadline and amount of support will be indicated in the Call of Entries.
- The Call for Entries is usually open for a few weeks in the spring.
- Please email Catrin Huber catrin.huber@newcastle.ac.uk in case of questions.
Who is eligible?
- Women students. We are trans inclusive.
- Students assigned female at birth but whose gender identity might have changed since.
- Non-binary students.
- You must also be a Year 3 or Year 4 student to be eligible for this opportunity.
How to Apply?
- Applications should be typed and should be no more than 500 words in length (including itinerary and budget). They should include:
Aims: Details of how the residency might inform your practice and benefit your career. How would you use the residency?
Objectives: What would you do to fulfil your aims? How would you use the resources and facilities available at the BSR, Rome, Italy and how would they benefit you? Please provide a detailed itinerary of planned activities.
Projected budget: a breakdown of estimated costs for transport, insurance, materials, itinerary and subsistence. Please be as accurate as possible, justifying your estimate by providing quotes.
10 Images (links to video /audio works) of your current work with respective details (title, media, size, year). No additional text about the work.
All applications will be considered by at least two members of the Forshaw Committee. Successful students will be informed of their award via email.
Requirements on your return:
You will need to submit an illustrated written report within one month of your return. You might also be asked to give a short talk about your time at the BSR to other Fine Art students.
Forshaw MFA Bursaries
- Value of award: 6,000 GBP per year (12,000 GBP in total over the two years), from 2026/2027.
- Deadline: TBC
- In order to be considered for a Forshaw MFA Bursaries, you must have already applied to the MFA at Newcastle University and received an offer of a place by this date and fulfilled any conditions attached to the offer. The award is only open to: 1) Women students. We are trans inclusive, 2) Students assigned female at birth but whose gender identity might have changed since, 3) Non-binary students.
- Payment is transferred once the student is registered and paid fees. The second payment will be made only on successful completion of Year 1, a satisfactory review of attendance to the course and payment of fees for Year 2.
Please contact nick.fox@newcastle.ac.uk in case of questions.
Forshaw MA Bursaries
- Value of award: 2,000 GBP from 2026/2027.
- Deadline: TBC
- In order to be considered for a Forshaw MA Bursaries, you must have already applied to the Fine Art MA or to the Contemporary Art History and Curating MA in the Fine Art Department at Newcastle University and received an offer of a place by this date and fulfilled any conditions attached to the offer. The award is only open to: 1) Women students. We are trans inclusive, 2) Students assigned female at birth but whose gender identity might have changed since, 3) Non-binary students.
- Payment is transferred once the student is registered and paid fees.
Please contact nick.fox@newcastle.ac.uk in case of questions.