Call For Donations To The Jonathan Speirs Scholarship Fund

The Jonathan Speirs Scholarship Fund (JSSF) is a UK registered charity which provides support to students of architecture who wish to enter the architectural lighting design profession. It has been set up at the behest of the late Jonathan Speirs, one of the world’s most prominent creative lighting designers who passed away two years ago, on June 18th.

The aim of the charity is to provide funding to allow ‘a student of architecture to investigate the study of architectural lighting design’. The charity is entirely funded by generous donations from companies and individuals, particularly from the lighting, architecture, and engineering communities.

Having launched JSSF in November 2012 the charity successfully raised sufficient funds to be able to support the inaugural Jonathan Speirs Scholarship which was awarded to Alex Stewart of Parsons The New School for Design, New York exactly a year later. Six months on, Alex has benefited from the scholarship in more ways than just financially: “The recognition through assorted publications has provided a platform for conversation with lighting professionals, and an opportunity to engage with the profession in very unique way, and I have consequently been able to take on a prestigious internship without the burden of financial concern.”

Following that success, the JSSF are now in the process of approaching schools of architecture and design in both the UK and US once again for them to put forward their candidates for 2014. The JSSF are therefore seeking further funding to help their immediate and ongoing challenge to generate future scholarships for talented architecture students with a passion for lighting for ensuing years.

Further information about the work of the Jonathan Speirs Scholarship Fund, together with ways of giving, can be found at www.jssf.org.uk. If you wish to contact JSSF about how you can help please e-mail John Roake, Chairman at info@jssf.org.uk.

03 Jul