Janet Arnold Award

Janet Arnold (1932–98) was an artist, teacher and fashion designer.  Her practical skills, together with a passion for accuracy, made her a powerful advocate for the study of historical dress as a serious discipline.  The use of archival material and every type of visual or literary record is important, but as she demonstrated in her own work, a real comprehension of the whys and wherefores of historical dress ultimately depends on the close examination, and understanding, of surviving garments – both whole and fragmentary.

She made provision in her will for the establishment of this award in order to further in-depth study of Western dress. Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they wish to pursue a particular piece of original research based on historic items of dress or their remains, with a view to eventually disseminating knowledge gained with the award through publication, display, cataloguing, teaching or through practical use in conservation or accurate reproduction. Research proposals must have an item or items of historic dress as their central focus. Consequently, projects working with dress fastenings or ornament that is now divorced from the item of dress, including archaeological material where the associated textiles do not exist, will not be eligible.

The amount of money for distribution in any one year will not exceed £4,000. The award may be used to assist with research costs, including travel, accommodation and any incidental expenses such as purchase of photographs or slides. In the case of an applicant in full-time employment in a field related to the subject of the proposed study, assistance may be given, in agreement with their employer, to help pay for a short-term substitute while the research is done. The Society will not fund the payment of overheads.

There is no age limit for applicants, and formal qualifications or previous publications are not necessary; but any relevant work relating to dress will be taken into account. The Society will not normally fund work that forms part of a university degree. Applicants must be able to show that:

• the research they plan has not already been covered by published work;

• the research can be accomplished without potential damage to the item[s] of dress concerned;

• consent can be obtained from the owner[s]/custodian[s] of any item[s] to be examined;

• the applicant has the skills necessary to bring this particular piece of work to fruition;

• the research has been adequately planned in respect of time required and estimated costs. (It may be that the award will cover only an agreed part of some larger research project.)

The successful applicant will be expected to provide a written report showing the results of their research and accounting in general terms for the costs involved. In the case of a larger award leading, for example, to a publication, interim reports will be necessary. Acknowledgement of the Janet Arnold Award should be made in any publication or practical use of the research. Should any part of the award remain unspent it is to be returned to the Society of Antiquaries for reinvestment in the Janet Arnold Award Fund.

All applications must be made using the application form provided. Completed applications and referee reports (twelve copies of each) should be returned to the Society of Antiquaries of London by the Friday of the first full week in January in the year of application. This deadline will be strictly adhered to and late applications or those with a late or missing referee report will not be considered.

Members of the Award Panel (whose names can be obtained from the General Secretary). Members of the Research Committee cannot act as referees.

Download the Application form and the Referee form