International Centre for Fine Art Research

The Anatomy of a Small Grant was the first of a series of seminars organised through ICFAR, designed to develop research leadership in relation to external grant applications, providing a forum for informal sharing of knowledge and focusing on the development of confidence and skills in application writing to a variety of schemes. The series is aimed at fine art research staff who have an application they wish to pursue, or are thinking of making an application. Future events will focus upon applications for fellowship awards, and Arts Council funding this year.

Paul Coldwell, Chair of the ICFAR Management Team and Director of FADE (Fine Art and Digital Environment) research group, led this first seminar at Chelsea College of Art and Design, which considered the opportunities offered through AHRC Research Grants, both Practice Led and Applied routes; a scheme which offers an ideal opportunity for early stage researchers pursuing practice led research with a maximum grant of £20,000.

The seminar took, as a case study, Paul's recent award under this scheme, the title of which is Absence and presence; A practice led investigation into the spaces and relationships within the House at Kettle's Yard, Cambridge. Paul Coldwell presented stages in the development of this grant application from initial ideas, through application, carrying out the research and toward the final report.