2020 was not a normal year for anyone, and the Trust was no exception. The Trustees met early in March 2020 to make their shortlist of applications. By the following week, but before the national lockdown was announced, we decided to the relief of applicants that it was inappropriate to ask them to travel from various parts of the country to Bristol for interview. We felt that rather than simply postpone interviews, the uncertainty of the situation made it more appropriate to make awards at some level to all of our shortlist. The applications were all potentially strong. Sadly we did have to eliminate one application that involved overseas travel, and support only part of another. We were pleased to still have such a wide spread of woven textile practice to support, and to include both large and small business enterprises, as well as the individual artist. It was clear from our awardees' interim reports in autumn 2020 that things have not been easy for most of them, both on a personal and a professional level. They have all been frank if they needed to adapt their original projects, and we have been pleased to discuss any changes, and continue to offer our support. We felt it appropriate in these exceptional circumstances to offer an extension of project completion time from spring to the autumn of 2021, so these reports come to you in the Journal rather later than normal. Our congratulations go to all the awardees for their commitment to their work through very difficult times, and we wish them every success for the future.
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