If you've been steadily building a textile practice in a spare room, a shed, or wherever you can find the space, this may be worth your time. Twice a year, Cockpit offers makers a genuine leg up: a studio at one of its two London sites, in Bloomsbury or Deptford, business support, and a community of people figuring out the same things you are. The application is straightforward, a form followed by an interview for anyone shortlisted, and what Cockpit is looking for isn't a finished, polished practice. It's skill, original thinking, ambition, and a willingness to be part of something.
Four awards are open now, closing on 27 September: the ALMAW Award, the Arts Society GLA Bursary, the Basketmakers' Award and the Broderers' Award. The prize stays consistent across all four: subsidised studio space at Bloomsbury or Deptford, subject to availability, access to specialist equipment depending on the award, tailored business support, and membership of Cockpit's community, including a place in Cockpit Open Studios twice a year.
Jacket by Morag Seaton, Winner of ALMAW Award 2025.
The ALMAW Award is the newest, and the most personal. It's named for Alan and Maureen White: Alan a carpenter who built his young family's first home and later carved a dolls' house so detailed it became family legend, Maureen a dressmaker who made her own wedding dress at nineteen before training formally in pattern cutting. Maureen and her daughter Veronica launched the award in 2025 in his memory, and its first recipient, Morag Seaton, met Maureen in person that December.
Sculpture by George Edwards, current winner of the Arts Society GLA Bursary
The Arts Society GLA Bursary supports professional craftspeople working in traditional skills, including techniques at risk of dying out, with a year of business support and studio space. It's backed by the Arts Society, an education charity with over 380 local Societies and 90,000 members worldwide. The image above may not be textile, but the award is open to those who are working within this discipline.
Chair by Angelita Alves, a previous winner of Basketmakers’ Award.
The Basketmakers' Award helps two basketmakers a year start up and grow as independent makers, with the Worshipful Company of Basketmakers involved in selecting recipients. Constituted in 1569, the Company holds a collection of plate, regalia and basketwork spanning three centuries.
Embroidered hares by Christine Leech, previous winner of the Broders' Award
The Broderers' Award goes to a maker with technical skill in hand embroidery looking to develop it within a business setting, funded by the Broderers' Charity Trust, the only charity dedicated solely to the art of embroidery.
Look out for further deadlines over the coming year. Weavers can watch for the Clothworkers' Award, with access to Leclerc, Louet and ARM looms, and the Weavers' Award, from the oldest livery company in the City of London. Knitters should watch the Haberdashers' Award, leatherworkers the Leathersellers' Award, and dyers the Dyers' Company Award, backed by a Company supporting dyeing since the twelfth century. Makers of Asian heritage or from the Asian diasporas can look forward to the Bagri Craft Award, currently held by Woo Jin Woo, exhibiting this month at Ruup and Form as part of London Textile Month.
With four awards open until 27 September, and more to come this year, it's worth finding out which one fits. And if you apply, good luck!
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Further Information:
Discover more about the Awards, and find out how to apply HERE
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Image Credits:
Lead: The Memory Shell by previous Basketry Award Winner, Esna Su.
All further images courtesy of the artists and Cockpit Arts.