Today, June 18, marks the one-year anniversary of the passing of lighting designer Jonathan Speirs. To honor, and further, the legacy of one of the most prolific members of the lighting community, the Jonathan Speirs Scholarship Fund (JSSF) was established in Nov. 2012. Over the past several months the fund has become a registered charity with H.M. Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in the United Kingdom, set up a Virgin Money Giving page, and most recently launched a dedicated website — www.jssf.org.uk — outlining all aspects of the fund, including information for students on how to apply for a scholarship.
The JSSF was established with the purpose of “providing financial assistance to students of architecture who wish to move into the rapidly expanding field of lighting design.” Although the fund has received a significant amount of support from the lighting industry as well as individuals, the JSSF is still looking to raise funds for the scholarship, particularly in the form of “individual donations from those who knew Jonathan personally.”
To help facilitate the process of individual donations, a Virgin Money Giving page has been set up at:
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/charityweb/charity/finalCharityHomepage.action?charityId=1006556.
Additionally, an area of the JSSF website — under the tab ‘Donate’ — has been set up to provide information for individuals and organizations who are interested in making one-time or annual donations.
“Jonathan was by nature a generous man with time for everyone who would listen. He was also passionate about both architectural and lighting education,” notes John Roake, JSSF Chairman. “This website sets out the mission of the JSSF and how you can actively help to support it. No donation is too small. There can also be no better legacy than to help a young architect who aspires to being a lighting designer to achieve their stated ambition.”
