The Zelart Scholarship
Hi, my name is James 'Grim' Desborough. I'm an author and roleplaying game designer from the UK, with my own small press publisher, Postmortem Studios. I run the Zelart Scholarship in memory of my friend and collaborator, 'Zel'.
Zel was an artist I worked with and helped through his education. We met through friends and formed a strong working relationship together. We made card games together and he provided illustrations for several of my gaming books. I got a great sense of satisfaction from helping a young, budding artist through school and watching his talent blossom.
Sadly, Zel was killed in an accident before I got to see him fully achieve his artistic potential or the success he so richly deserved.
Casting about for something I could do to commemorate him, I remembered how we had met, how the work I gave him had helped him so much and how good it had felt to nurture that talent. The best way to remember Zel, I felt, was to do the same for others.
In my day to day work I do what I can, deliberately seeking out young, marginalised, disabled, unemployed, homeless and other disadvantaged artists to give them a leg up, money and help in getting the attention of the RPG and publishing community to get them into more regular work.
The Zelart scholarship is a natural extension of this. A way to hunt out and promote new talent and to give them a lump sum of cash to smooth their way.
What We Need & What You Get
We sell Zel's back catalogue of stock art, along with donated artworks and the artwork of past winners to raise funds over the year and supplement that with what we can raise via this fundraiser. This isn't about selling a product to you, but what you get out of it is more, reasonably priced stock art, a way to nurture new artists and a warm sense of self-satisfaction.
Whatever money we get will go to the scholarship winner, if we raise a great deal over and above our target we may institute second or third tier awards. Whatever we raise will go to artists.
Risks & Challenges
It can be challenging to find people both to sponsor and to enter into this scholarship. Previous years this has proven very challenging. Whatever you can do to spread the word to potential sponsors, donators and entrants is greatly appreciated.
Other Ways You Can Help
Besides a contribution, you can help out in many other ways.
Are you a young artist or an artist suffering from reduced circumstances? Then enter!
Are an artist who is doing OK for themselves and has some spare personal pieces they don't mind being sold to support this enterprise? You can donate art!
Do you know a young artist or an artist who needs the money due to disability, unemployment or other issues? Tell them about it!
