A new initiative reflecting COLFORD’s commitment to championing creativity and consideration within the corporate gifting space by nurturing creative talent and investing in the next generation of UK craft makers.
Photography - Ben Reilly
COLFORD is proud to announce its inaugural bursary in partnership with The Glasgow School of Art, supporting their Artists in Residence Programme within the Silversmithing & Jewellery Department for the academic year 2026/27.
Founded on the belief that meaningful objects tell stories and create connections, COLFORD brings together traditional making, considered design and responsible material choices to help its clients communicate through gifting. Its work is underpinned by a commitment to collaboration, positive influence and a less wasteful approach to gifting, alongside a curated network of highly skilled artists, craftspeople and designer-makers. This bursary extends those values beyond COLFORD’s own practice, helping to create opportunities for emerging talent to develop and flourish.
Supporting the talent pipeline in craft is essential to sustaining the skills, knowledge and creative thinking that give handmade objects their enduring value. By investing in the next generation of makers with The Glasgow School of Art, COLFORD hopes to help ensure that traditional disciplines continue to evolve, that new perspectives are encouraged, and that talented artists have the opportunity to build meaningful creative careers.
Anna Gordon, Head of Department, Silversmithing & Jewellery at The Glasgow School of Art comments “The Artists in Residence programme provides emerging makers the opportunity to develop their practice within the thriving creative community at The Glasgow School of Art. We are delighted to collaborate with COLFORD on the inaugural bursary and are proud to celebrate our shared values of craft, innovation and investment in the next generation of talent.”
“We’re incredibly proud to launch our inaugural bursary in partnership with The Glasgow School of Art, an institution with an outstanding international reputation for creative excellence and innovation.”, adds Nathan Cole, Co-Founder & Creative Director of COLFORD. "Supporting its Artists in Residence Programme is a meaningful way for us to invest in the talent pipeline, champion the enduring value of craftsmanship and help ensure that the skills and creativity at the heart of our industry continue to thrive.”
Through this partnership with a world-renowned institution, COLFORD is delighted to contribute to an environment where experimentation, technical excellence and individual expression can thrive. The inaugural bursary marks the beginning of a longer-term commitment to supporting the people and practices that will shape the future of craft.
