News

People we support are using our grants to make a real difference in their lives.
We want to SHARE their achievements, PASS ON what they have learned, and TELL you what we're up to.

New kiln, new opportunities

Earlier this year, Siobhan Joan applied successfully to Gane Trust for a grant to help her buy a new kiln to support her progressing her ceramic practice. Having purchased the kiln, Siobhan has been able to widen and increase her scope of production, and is now selling her ceramics through the Bristol Guild of Applied Arts. A good situation for Siobhan and for all the customers able to buy her mugs and plates to enjoy at home.

A vital piece of equipment

Arianne Abram-Moore received a Gane Trust grant earlier this year to buy an engineer’s combination square, an essential tool for accurate marking and precision work in furniture making. Arianne wrote to tell us how this tool supported her through her most difficult project to date, a chair with a woven rush style seat. As she steps into the third (BA) year of her Furniture Making and Design course we hope that this tool continues to support her – it is a great example of how a Gane Trust grant can support creative development!

The Haven Round House where the journaling sessions take place

Journaling for well-being workshops

Writer Jaime Breitnauer received a Gane Trust grant in the spring of 2023 to support the development of her journaling for well-being workshops at the Haven Round House with female parents of disabled young people in Bristol. The grant enabled her to run a further three sessions building on her learnings from the pilot programme undertaken in 2022. The feedback and impact data indicate that this work makes a genuine difference, empowering women to take control of their own mental health and well-being outcomes, and creating connected communities of carers in their local area. Jaime is now in a position...

Combining traditional sculptural methods with 3D printing

A Gane Trust grant awarded in March has enabled Bristol sculptor Kate Parsons to explore the potential of 3D printing for making, and re-scaling sculptural work. The project for which the grant was given is called ‘Above/Below’ and combines traditional methods of making with that of cutting-edge technology. Kate explains ‘This will expand my technical knowledge and expertise going forward. I often start work from anthropological research, mainly in Africa, which leads to a form of personal fusion of sculptural forms, materials, subject matter and symbolism. The concept of ‘Above/Below’ is based on the Giriama Commemorative Grave Posts (Vigango) being...

Recycling acrylic waste into jewellery

Earlier this year the Gane Trust awarded a grant to Amber Bailey to fund the purchase of a vulcanised rubber press for her acrylic jewellery business. Amber got in touch to tell us “This machinery allows me to recycle my acrylic waste into new sheets for laser cutting. It has been a great step towards reducing my waste and improving the environmental and financial impact of my business. I have been saving my acrylic waste for the past year, hoping to try out this technique of recycling. It is thanks to the Gane Trust that I have been able to...

Destiny’s Story

The Gane Trust is pleased to have supported Florence Espeut-Nickless with a grant towards the costs of materials for set design and costumes for Destiny, a one-woman show that Florence wrote and performs. Destiny tells the story a girl growing up on a council estate in Chippenham and her dreams of seeing beyond the neighbourhood and finding hope in hopelessness by being a dancer on MTV. It is being performed at The Point in Eastleigh on 2 & 3 November and at the Creative Youth Network in Bristol on 18 Nov.

Interested in becoming a Gane Trustee?

Are you keen to work with us on supporting emerging artists, crafts people, makers and care professionals with an innovative grants and award programme in the South West? The Gane Trust is currently seeking to recruit up to three new board members to join as Trustees. We would like to hear from people with experience in the arts and social care, and particularly from candidates with expertise and experience in the key areas of: Social Media & Website Development Craft & Design Social Care & Nursing We especially welcome applications from candidates from Black and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, younger people...