The Future Makers application programme by Design & Crafts Council Ireland is a national award initiative supporting emerging talent in craft and design. In 2026, it offers €38,000 in awards and €26,000 in mentoring, helping students and early-career makers develop skills, advance projects, and build sustainable creative careers.

The Future Makers application is open to students, recent graduates, and emerging practitioners in craft and design. Design & Crafts Council Ireland defines applicants as those currently in education or in the early stages of professional practice, with no stated requirement for residency in the Republic of Ireland in this guidance.

Through the Future Makers application, Design & Crafts Council Ireland offers 26 awards across Student and Emerging Practitioner categories. These include overall awards up to €4,000, as well as sustainable design, materials, studio, training, and exhibition awards, alongside a €1,000 mentoring package for each recipient.

In the Future Makers application, Design & Crafts Council Ireland distinguishes categories by career stage. The Student category supports those in education or recently graduated, focusing on development and potential, while the Emerging Practitioner category supports early-career professionals building a practice, with emphasis on progression and impact.

The Future Makers application for 2026 opens on 21 April 2026. The deadline for submissions is 22 June 2026, giving applicants a defined window to prepare materials and complete the online application process.

To complete a Future Makers application, applicants must submit an online form via Design & Crafts Council Ireland, including a portfolio, creative proposal, CV, and budget. Applicants must also outline how they will use the €1,000 mentoring package, specifying skills, outcomes, and intended impact on their practice. Apply Here.

Furniture maker, Christopher Tuohy from Cork, was awarded the 2025 Overall Emerging Maker award, while Rachel Kenny, a paper maker from Dublin, was announced as the Sustainable Design award winner. Textile artist and designer, Clodagh Nathan from Co. Kildare, was the recipient of the Overall Student award, while in the student and recent graduate sustainability category, Lucy O’Sullivan, a furniture maker from Kildare, was announced as the Sustainable Design award winner.