Awarding makers, designers and craftspeople who will shape the future.

 

Established in 2009, Future Makers is a Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) initiative which recognises talent, potential and creativity. Its aim is to support the next generation of makers, designers and craftspeople to take the step from training into enterprise and is one of the largest prize-funded award programmes in Europe.

 

Divided into student and emerging practitioner categories and covering a wide range of disciplines, the Future Makers programme recognises and rewards vision, innovation and excellence in both making and the creative process among students and recent graduates. This is a crucial time in the career path of young makers and Future Makers creates a platform to showcase talent, as well as providing much needed financial support.  

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Awards & Supports

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• Future Maker Student Award - 1 Award of € 2,500

• Award for Sustainable Design - 1 Award of €1,000

• Materials Supports of €500 - Five supports available

• Travel & Training Supports of €500 - Four supports available

• Professional Development Supports of €500 - Three supports available

 

• Future Maker Emerging Makers Award - 1 Award of € 3,500

• Award for Sustainable Design - 1 Award of €2,000

• Studio Supports of €1,000 - Four supports available

• Residencies/Training Supports of €1,000 - Three supports available

• Exhibition Supports of €1,000 - Three supports available

 

For more information about categories and awards, please click here

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Previous Future Makers winners include fashion designer Natalie B. Coleman, furniture designer Simon Doyle, ceramic artist Kate O’Kelly, Print Block artist collective, ceramic artist and educator Owen Quinlan, fashion designer Sorcha O’Raghallaigh and designer Úna Burke.

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The RDS Craft Awards

 

Future Makers is the qualifying competition for the annual RDS Craft Awards, which provides 5 x €10,000 awards to makers at a formative stage in their careers. These five significant awards are for the development of business and craft skills for those pursuing a professional career in the sector. The money can be spent on further education and training, research, development of new work, mentoring, purchase of equipment, studio improvements, website and residencies.

 

Winners will also have the opportunity show their work to the public on a free stand (value €2,000) at Gifted – The Contemporary Craft & Design Fair which take place annually in the RDS. To be eligible for the 2021 RDS Craft Awards, emerging craft makers must have won a Future Makers Award or Support in 2020. For more information see www.rds.ie/craft

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About Design and Crafts Council (DCCI)

Design & Crafts Council Ireland promotes the commercial development of Irish designers and makers, stimulating innovation, championing design thinking and informing Government policy. DCCI's activities are funded by the Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment via Enterprise Ireland. DCCI currently has 66 member organisations and over 3,500 registered clients. 

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