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Berkofsky Arts Award

Application closing date:  Sunday 17 March 2024, 23:59 (Open Monday 19 February)

2024 is the tenth anniversary of the first Berkofsky Arts Award.

The Berkofsky Arts Award is an award available to final year undergraduate students studying within the Faculty of Arts, Humanities & Cultures.

The Berkofsky Arts Awards are funded by a generous legacy from the late Hugh Berkofsky.  Up to FIVE awards of no more than £2,000 each will be made each year for the creation or dissemination of artwork that will benefit the development of a student’s career in painting, sculpture, drama (including photography or film that has a narrative content) or music.

The activity must involve the creation and/or dissemination (by performance or other public presentation) of the artwork, and the award will be used to cover the costs of materials, travel and accommodation, and any other relevant expenses except the payment of wages/salaries. The activity will normally take place in the period between completing final level examinations/assessment and graduation.

Berkofsky Arts Award holders will be expected to report back on the impact of the award. They are asked to provide:

  • An interim report, which may be accompanied by audio, video or photographic evidence, should be no longer than 500 words, and should explain the work the award holder has done and briefly list the outcomes (such as artworks, events and so on). Due by 1st August 2024.
  • A final report which should be 1500-2000 words long and should be accompanied by audio, video or photographic evidence of the award holder’s work. It should again explain the work the award holder has done and list the outcomes (such as artworks, events and so on), but also explain and review the impact it has had on the award holder’s future development and any impacts it has had beyond this (such as on audiences). Finally, it should explain how the award holder has used the award to develop their work during the duration of the scheme and include a thank you message to the Hugh Berkofsky Estate. The final report is due by 1st December 2024.
  • In addition, award holders should be prepared to discuss their work and the benefits of the scheme with students, staff and other interested parties, as required. This may include requests to support mentoring of Berkofsky applicants, sharing of outputs, reports and successful applications, and producing a video about the award holder’s experience to promote the scheme. The award holder’s permission and approval will be sought before any material related to their award is shared with a wider audience.

Selection Procedure

The criteria for award:

  • Academic excellence: Applicants should have achieved a first-class mark in at least one relevant module in their level 2, or level 3 semester one assessments. Applicants should comment on why the module is relevant and their general academic profile.
  • Quality of the proposal: The proposal must provide a realistic, clear and engaging account of the project. The proposal should include clear and accurate costings (what will the award be spent on, precisely rather than approximately). The proposal should also include a schedule for the project which demonstrates that it is achievable within the award window.
  • Career impact: The proposal should give a clear account of the potential impact on the career development and plans of the applicant. This account should be realistic but aspirational.

Deadline for Applications:
Open: Monday 19 February
Close: Sunday 17 March 2024, 23:59

Find out more information, including short videos from some previous winners: https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/arts-humanities-cultures/doc/berkofsky-awards.

General enquiries about your award should be sent to Lorraine Seymour, l.seymour@leeds.ac.uk

The awards will be made by the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures, on the recommendation of an expert panel of which will consider the applications and report recommendations to the Faculty Executive Committee.