The Edinburgh Assay Office (EAO) Award is a new initiative aimed at supporting and promoting silversmithing in Scotland, building on the nation's rich and diverse history of the craft.
THE AWARD
The aim of this award is to create a unique piece of contemporary silver, one that represents excellence in craftsmanship in Scotland. The hallmark, done at Edinburgh Assay Office, should be a conspicuous feature of the piece.
The scale and type of piece is up to the discretion of the maker, based upon the award budget.
The selected maker will receive £4,000 to make and create the piece. A key component of this award includes a fully-funded 4-week residency at the Marchmont Silversmithing Workshop.
Premise: The premise of the award is purposefully open--to create a noteworthy piece of silver by asking the question, what is one piece of contemporary silver you have always dreamed of making, but never had the chance to?
Partner: The Hugo Burge Foundation and The Marchmont Silversmithing Workshop
Applicants: Applications are open to any silversmith and/or jeweller living and working in Scotland with at least 3+ years of experience post-graduation and/or training. The Applicant must be able to demonstrate their capacity to utilise silversmithing techniques to create a larger object. Applications will be anonymised at the initial review stage, however, specific information about the applicant will be given to the panel if needed to make a final decision.
Budget: £5,000 total (£4,000 for award winner; £1,000 for mentor). If the maker selected is well-established and may not require a mentor, the additional £1,000 will be given to them, with the expectation that they teach a 2-day masterclass during their MSW residency.
THE RESIDENCY
A key component of this award includes 4 weeks of residency at the Marchmont Silversmithing Workshop (MSW), supported by the Hugo Burge Foundation, who manage MSW and the surrounding Marchmont workshops. This includes:
- 4-weeks of residency at MSW (this can be taken as one, 4-week residency, or four separate 1-week residencies, based on the existing schedule at MSW)
- £350/week stipend, totalling £1,400
- Accommodation on the estate for the 4 weeks
- Bench rental
The £1,000 mentorship budget can be allocated to the award recipient and their selected mentor, or, it could cover the cost of mentorship and accommodation at Marchmont for a 2 to 3-day masterclass at MSW. If the award recipient is of sufficient experience and does not require a mentor, then the additional £1,000 allocated to the mentor will be given to the award recipient. This will be done with the expectation that they teach, at minimum, a 2-day masterclass during their MSW residency.
The environment at Marchmont is one that fosters creativity and freedom of expression. The residency offers the award recipient time to step outside of their normal environment and foster creative exploration. It strengthens our connection with MSW and Graham Stewart's legacy, and enables the recipient to benefit from the workshop environment.
Applications for The Edinburgh Assay Office Award close Tuesday, 4th November 2025.
Applicants will be informed of outcomes by mid-December 2025. The successful applicant will begin work in January 2026.
If you have any questions regarding this application, please contact Eda Obermanns, Digital Communication & Marketing Lead, via eda@edinburghassayoffice.co.uk.