Inspire. Support. Create.
About Us
We are an incubator for creative and professional development in the visual arts.
We support individual makers, artists and designers, through a select group of institutions where we offer awards, burseries and fellowships.
Our Origins
In 1984 the Paice family created the Traverse Trust - formally known as the I.S.A. Charity - to offer people the chance to embark on an experience that could change their perspective on life.
Originally our focus was on travel, a family passion, but over the years we have widened our vision and activities to engage more with the visual arts.
With a background in shoe design and manufacturing we have always been interesting in fostering the professional development of creative minds. Our awards support those who are looking to embark on a new stage in their creative journey: whether graduating from University or seeking a new challenge mid-career.
In 2014 the charity celebrated its thirtieth anniversary and we decided to establish this new arts foundation, Artisa. For more information on the original Trust please see www.traversetrust.org.
Originally our focus was on travel, a family passion, but over the years we have widened our vision and activities to engage more with the visual arts.
With a background in shoe design and manufacturing we have always been interesting in fostering the professional development of creative minds. Our awards support those who are looking to embark on a new stage in their creative journey: whether graduating from University or seeking a new challenge mid-career.
In 2014 the charity celebrated its thirtieth anniversary and we decided to establish this new arts foundation, Artisa. For more information on the original Trust please see www.traversetrust.org.
Our Team
Richard Paice
FounderRichard is a passionate explorer of ideas and places. This appetite for new experiences took him to Iceland as a Queen Scout and Heidelberg University for a year, before he read Chemistry at Oxford. Following an MBA at Insead he hitchhiked through Africa joining his father’s business on his return. For 40 years he grew I.S.A. (Holdings), with a global network of offices from Hong Kong to Brazil. In 2004 he passed on the business to focus on other interests – furniture, architecture and contemporary craft. He has been the Chairman of both the Gloucestershire Guild of Craftsman and the Gordon Russell Design Museum; Master of the Patternmaker’s Livery and President of the Footwear Friends Charity. He holds an honorary degree from Oxford Brookes and he is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Adriana Paice
DirectorAdriana is a curator, artist and editor. She has created BAFTA nominated interactive sculptures for the London Stock Exchange and curated Thomas Heatherwick’s award-wining British Pavilion at the World Expo in Shanghai, as well as editing books on British design for Sir John Sorrell. Collaboration is at the heart of her practice. In her interactive textiles she has worked with poets, musicians and fashion designers, with her work presented in Paris and London. In addition to her personal practice she is a director of I.S.A. (Holdings) working on its new property portfolio. She holds an MA in Italian and History of Art from Edinburgh University and is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Charlotte Grinling
TrusteeCharlotte is a designer maker and educator. After studying fashion textiles at Central St Martins, she completed a MA at the Royal College of Art. She worked for a number of leading forecasting agencies before establishing her own company Design Direction, with a focus on design and colour forecasting for homewares. Clients included John Lewis Partnerships, Homebase, Next, M&S and House of Fraser amongst many others. For 18 years, alongside this work, Charlotte was also a key lecturer and professional practice co-ordinator at Goldsmiths College, University of London, inspiring a generation of designers. In 2013, she returned to her roots as a designer maker, honing her skills as a ceramicist. She now has a thriving practice, selling her work across the UK and Scandinavia. She has been awarded a Fellowship in Teaching and Learning at Goldsmiths College and the Peake Award for Innovation and Excellence in Teaching.
Our Community
With thirty years of awards winners we have a dynamic and diverse alumni base. We foster this community, finding opportunities to meet and connect in London, Cambridge and Glasgow. Often, exciting new projects and collaborations emerge from these encounters.
Inspire. Support. Create.
About Us
We are an incubator for creative and professional development in the visual arts.
We support individual makers, artists and designers, through a select group of institutions where we offer awards, burseries and fellowships.
Our Origins
In 1984 the Paice family created the Traverse Trust - formally known as the I.S.A. Charity - to offer people the chance to embark on an experience that could change their perspective on life.
Originally our focus was on travel, a family passion, but over the years we have widened our vision and activities to engage more with the visual arts.
With a background in shoe design and manufacturing we have always been interesting in fostering the professional development of creative minds. Our awards support those who are looking to embark on a new stage in their creative journey: whether graduating from University or seeking a new challenge mid-career.
In 2014 the charity celebrated its thirtieth anniversary and we decided to establish this new arts foundation, Artisa. For more information on the original Trust please see www.traverse-trust.org.
Originally our focus was on travel, a family passion, but over the years we have widened our vision and activities to engage more with the visual arts.
With a background in shoe design and manufacturing we have always been interesting in fostering the professional development of creative minds. Our awards support those who are looking to embark on a new stage in their creative journey: whether graduating from University or seeking a new challenge mid-career.
In 2014 the charity celebrated its thirtieth anniversary and we decided to establish this new arts foundation, Artisa. For more information on the original Trust please see www.traverse-trust.org.
Our Team
Richard Paice
Founder
Richard is a passionate explorer of ideas and places. This appetite for new experiences took him to Iceland as a Queen Scout and Heidelberg University for a year, before he read Chemistry at Oxford. Following an MBA at Insead he hitchhiked through Africa joining his father’s business on his return. For 40 years he grew I.S.A. (Holdings), with a global network of offices from Hong Kong to Brazil. In 2004 he passed on the business to focus on other interests – furniture, architecture and contemporary craft. He has been the Chairman of both the Gloucestershire Guild of Craftsman and the Gordon Russell Design Museum; Master of the Patternmaker’s Livery and President of the Footwear Friends Charity. He holds an honorary degree from Oxford Brookes and he is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Adriana Paice
Director
Adriana is a curator, artist and editor. She has created BAFTA nominated interactive sculptures for the London Stock Exchange and curated Thomas Heatherwick’s award-wining British Pavilion at the World Expo in Shanghai, as well as editing books on British design for Sir John Sorrell. Collaboration is at the heart of her practice. In her interactive textiles she has worked with poets, musicians and fashion designers, with her work presented in Paris and London. In addition to her personal practice she is a director of I.S.A. (Holdings) working on its new property portfolio. She holds an MA in Italian and History of Art from Edinburgh University and is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Charlotte Grinling
Trustee
Charlotte is a designer maker and educator. After studying fashion textiles at Central St Martins, she completed a MA at the Royal College of Art. She worked for a number of leading forecasting agencies before establishing her own company Design Direction, with a focus on design and colour forecasting for homewares. Clients included John Lewis Partnerships, Homebase, Next, M&S and House of Fraser amongst many others. For 18 years, alongside this work, Charlotte was also a key lecturer and professional practice co-ordinator at Goldsmiths College, University of London, inspiring a generation of designers. In 2013, she returned to her roots as a designer maker, honing her skills as a ceramicist. She now has a thriving practice, selling her work across the UK and Scandinavia. She has been awarded a Fellowship in Teaching and Learning at Goldsmiths College and the Peake Award for Innovation and Excellence in Teaching.
Our Community
With thirty years of awards winners we have a dynamic and diverse alumni base. We foster this community, finding opportunities to meet and connect in London, Cambridge and Glasgow. Often, exciting new projects and collaborations emerge from these encounters.