We’re excited to launch the Mortise & Tenon Research Grant! As we shared last month, the goal of this program is to create opportunities for new voices and passionate research to emerge in the realm of pre-industrial craft. We want to hear from you – If you or someone you know has a dream of diving into a particular area of study for deeper understanding; if you’re smitten by the work of some obscure pre-industrial maker; if you’ve been bitten by the bug of exploring the folk arts practiced by your ancestors but have hit a wall of financial limitation, we may be able to help.
The M&T Research Grant is now accepting applications for two grant recipients for the 2021 calendar year. Each grant may total up to $3,000 depending on the proposed scope of research. Successful applicants will set a timeframe for their research, which will culminate in an essay of their findings to be published in a future issue of the magazine. M&T will offer assistance in gathering information and in putting together a research summary, as well as plenty of encouragement and support along the way. After all, learning more about the skills of the past helps us all to know who we are and where we’ve come from, and that is a heartening thing to be celebrated!
We are also offering an option for those who would like to support this research grant – You can financially contribute to this work through a non-charitable donation. Donors will receive updates on the research they are supporting, as well as a special wax-sealed trade card denoting their contribution to the year’s grants. We can ensure that new voices and new stories are heard and explored in the realm of pre-industrial handcraft for years to come.
The Grant information page can found here, and the grant application itself can be found here. Please note, we only accept physically mailed copies of the application. In the future, this will be an open-ended application process, but the first round of recipients will be selected from applications received by June 1st, 2021.
Thank you all for supporting this effort, and your continued interest for exploring new horizons in traditional handcraft!
– Mike