To support and guide an emerging artist through the next stage of their career, offering financial help, mentorship, and exhibition experience for 2 years Our aim is to make professional textile practice more accessible, creating opportunities for creative exchange and genuine connections between established and emerging artists, from all backgrounds, while strengthening and increasing the visibility of textile art.

For:

UK-based emerging or early-career textile artists (approx. 3+ years of committed practice) seeking mentorship and professional development.

Opportunity:

To support and guide an emerging artist through the next stage of their career, offering financial help, mentorship, and exhibition experience for 2 years

Our aim is to make professional textile practice more accessible, creating opportunities for creative exchange and genuine connections between established and emerging artists, from all backgrounds, while strengthening and increasing the visibility of textile art.

Why Choose Associate Membership:

Perfect if you’re building your professional practice and want hands-on support, funding, and a route toward full membership.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  If you have already exhibited widely, held a solo show, are represented by a gallery, or have received significant awards or residencies, you may be more suited to Full Membership instead.

Benefits:

• £500 per year for 2 years (£1,000 total) to support with membership expenses
• Free membership for 2 years (no £65 annual fee)
• Practical Support & Mentoring: You’ll be paired with a 62 Group Friend — your main contact for advice, encouragement, and guidance.
  You’ll also receive targeted mentoring from other members who can help you develop specific skills or areas of your practice.
  Mentoring sessions (up to six per year) may take place in person or on Zoom.
  Your first session will include goal-setting and a personalised professional development plan tailored to your ambitions.
• Opportunity to exhibit alongside full members (no fees)
• Artist profile on the 62 Group website
• Networking meetings with professional artists
• Option to apply for Full Membership after 2 years (first year free)

Selection Process:

Associate membership selection happens in two stages:

Stage 1 – Digital Images

• A rotating panel of 62 Group members along with external representation reviews submitted images. Applicants who receive a majority vote will move to Stage 2. Results are sent by email.

Stage 2 – Physical work

• A new panel with 62 group members along with external representation (with one link member from Stage 1) reviews the physical work. Final decisions are made by majority vote and communicated by email.

All decisions are final, but unsuccessful applicants are welcome to reapply in future years.

Selection Criteria

• Demonstrates a distinctive artistic voice, ambition, and innovation in their practice.
• Has at least three years of committed textile practice, with flexibility for career or life breaks.
• Shows quality, originality, and technical expertise in their creative work.
• Can clearly explain how they would benefit from and contribute to the 62 Group of Textile Artists.

Commitment:

• Active Participation: Engage fully in the two-year membership, including mentoring sessions, networking opportunities, and professional development activities.
• Exhibition Submission: Apply to participate in 62 Group exhibitions and follow the same selection process as full members.
• Reporting & Accountability: Submit annual updates on how financial support and mentoring have contributed to your practice.

How to apply:

1.    Payment of a £15 submission fee by PayPal. This must be paid before any application can be considered. Please note that you DO NOT need to have your own PayPal account. Click on the ‘Pay Now’ button below to go to the PayPal login panel and choose ‘Pay with Debit or Credit Card’ if you don’t have an account. Once you have paid and received the confirmation email from PayPal, you should make a note of the Transaction ID as you will be asked for this when completing the application form.

PAY NOW

2.    Submission of a completed application form together with a current profile and 5-10 digital images of your work saved as JPEGs. (Late or incomplete applications cannot be considered).

Application form will require:

• Your full name & contact details
• An artist statement (max 300 words please) including aims, sources, influences, materials and methods used in your work.
• Artist profile including any relevant experience, education and qualifications, exhibitions, commissions, publications etc.   Please note an arts degree is NOT a prerequisite to apply for this opportunity and neither do you need to have all of these experiences - just include the ones you have)
• Statement outlining how being an associate member will benefit the development of your practice (max 500 words please)

b.    All images should be of a high standard, promoting the applicant’s credentials as a practitioner. It is important that applicants note that poor quality digital images will reflect badly on the application and may be rejected.

Please submit between five to ten images illustrating at least five pieces of work made in the last five years. Detail views are welcome, but you must also include a whole view or views of the work in question.

Digital images should be in JPEG format only and have a resolution of not less than 300dpi and a file size of no more than 4MB each. Please name your images in the format: image number_your first name_your last name.jpeg Example: 1_Anni_Albers.jpeg

Timeframe:

• Applications open 1st September on CuratorSpace
  
  
• Deadline for applications is 5th October 2026 5 pm
  
  
• Stage 1 notifications by mid-October
  
  
• Second Stage delivery of works 3rd and 4th November (London)
  
  
• Notification of Stage 2 by mid-November