Application Guidelines
International Artist Bursary
This bursary is a structured, proposal-led opportunity. Applicants must present a clear and considered proposal, supported by examples of their work, outlining how they intend to use their time on the trip and how learning will be shared with the North Kensington community on return.
What you’ll be expected to deliver
The selected artist will be required to:
- Develop a detailed travel plan following selection, including proposed dates, itinerary and budget breakdown, for review and approval by Westway Trust prior to any bookings being made.
- Undertake the trip in line with the proposal submitted as part of the application (any significant changes must be agreed in advance in writing).
- Document the trip (e.g., journal, short video diary, or equivalent).
- Deliver at least one agreed public-facing outcome in North Kensington (e.g., talk, workshop, sharing event, or small exhibition), within an agreed timeframe after return.
- Submit a short, written reflection with accompanying images/video following return to support public sharing and reporting.
How we assess applications
We will assess applications against two sets of criteria:
1. Artistic practice & readiness
- Strength and coherence of artistic practice, including the quality and originality of work submitted.
- Clarity of artistic direction and depth of engagement within the applicant’s practice.
- Evidence of commitment to and sustained development of practice.
- Capacity to work independently and manage a period of self-directed research and creative development.
2. Trip proposal & North Kensington impact
Applicants must submit a clear proposal outlining:
- The relevance of undertaking this opportunity in Trinidad and Tobago to their practice.
- What they intend to research, explore or develop.
- Initial ideas for artists, cultural spaces or contexts they hope to engage with.
- A high-level outline of how time during the trip may be structured.
- The creative outcomes or ideas that may emerge.
- How learning and outcomes will be shared with the North Kensington community.
The proposal will be assessed on:
- Clarity of purpose: the strength and relevance of the artist’s motivation for undertaking the trip.
- Artistic development: the extent to which the proposed research could meaningfully inform future work or practice.
- Feasibility: whether the proposal demonstrates a realistic and achievable approach to undertaking the trip independently.
- Social impact: the potential for the experience to generate outcomes that are meaningful or valuable for the community of North Kensington.
How to apply
- Apply via the online application form.
- You’ll be asked to upload: a PDF portfolio (max 15 pages), a copy of your passport ID page, and a CV (optional).
Applications will be reviewed against the criteria above and shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview.
Key information
The selected artist retains full intellectual property rights in any work created. Westway Trust retains non-exclusive rights to reproduce and promote documentation and outcomes related to the bursary, with appropriate credit.
The offer of a bursary is conditional on eligibility checks, confirmation of travel readiness, and signing a Participation Agreement.
- Open to: North Kensington-connected artists
- Application Deadline: Monday 13 April 2026
- Interviews: 20 April – 30 April 2026
- Trip window: July 2026 – March 2027 (exact dates to be agreed with the selected artist)
- Contact: artsandculture@westway.org