If you’re a craft or design student—or an emerging maker building your career—the Future Makers Awards from Design & Crafts Council Ireland offer a powerful combination of funding and professional support.

In 2026, the programme includes a €38,000 award fund plus a €26,000 mentoring investment, bringing the total support to €64,000.

Alongside financial awards, each winner receives a structured mentoring package designed to accelerate their development. Many past recipients have gone on to establish successful creative practices—explore previous winners on the DCCI website for inspiration.

Key Dates for Future Makers 2026

• Application open date: 21st April 2026
• Application closing date: 22nd June 2026
• Future Makers shortlist announcement date: TBC
• Future Makers ceremony date: TBC

Who Can Apply?

Future Makers is open to individuals at two key stages of their creative journey.

• Student Applicants
  • Currently enrolled in a full-time craft or design course, or
  • Recently graduated (typically within the past year)
• Emerging Practitioners
  • Early-career makers establishing a professional practice
  • Typically within the first few years of developing their work commercially or independently

Eligibility definitions are set by Design & Crafts Council Ireland and should be reviewed carefully before applying.

Future Makers Categories

Choosing the correct category is essential for a strong application.

Student & Recent Graduate Category

This category supports those still in education or transitioning into professional practice. It focuses on:

• Skill-building and experimentation
• Development of creative identity
• Early-stage project exploration

Applications are assessed with an emphasis on potential and growth.

Emerging Practitioner Category

This category is aimed at early-career professionals who are building momentum. It supports:

• Studio development and expansion
• New product or collection development
• Strategic career progression

Here, judges expect more clarity, direction, and readiness for impact.

What Judges Look For

Future Makers is competitive, so aligning your application with the judging criteria is critical.

Craft Excellence
Strong technical ability and a deep understanding of materials and processes.

Originality
A distinctive voice or approach that sets your work apart.

Career Potential
Clear evidence that the award and mentoring will significantly benefit your development.

Design Thinking
Innovation, problem-solving, and how your work engages with contemporary challenges or audiences.

How to Apply — Step by Step

Follow these steps to complete your Future Makers application successfully.

Step 1:

Check Eligibility

Confirm whether you fit the Student/Recent Graduate or Emerging Practitioner category. Always refer to the latest guidance from Design & Crafts Council Ireland before proceeding.

Step 2:

Prepare Your Application

A strong application combines clear thinking, compelling visuals, and a realistic plan. You will typically need:

Personal information

Student Category

In the first section of the form you will be asked to fill in your personal contact information and your educational information.

At this point you must upload a copy of your student card or other proof of enrolment on your named course.

You will also be asked for website and social media links relating to your creative practice. Judges will not view these but this information is useful to us to promote the work of Future Makers winners.

Emerging Maker Category

In the first section of the form you will be asked to fill in your personal contact information and to select the option which most applies to you:

• Set up a craft/design enterprise in the past 6 years
• Graduated from a craft/design course in the past 2-6 years
• Currently in full-time postgraduate studies in a craft design discipline

The option you choose will affect the sections you then have to fill in:

Portfolio of work (high-quality, well-presented images)

Support Category and Creative Work
For both Student and Emerging Maker Categories, you will be asked to upload images of your work*. Make sure these are labelled correctly with you name and image number. Example: SandraBell_image1.jpeg

The form will only accept .jpg and .jpeg files. The maximum file size is 3MB.

In the text box beside each image, you should enter the title of the work, materials used, dimensions, year created, photography credit.

Example:

Bowl yellow
Ceramic
10cm (H) x 5cm (D) x 5cm (W)
2017
Artists image

You must upload a minimum of three images or the form will not submit.

Student Category – Supports

In this section you will be asked to choose which of the 3 supports on offer you wish to apply for:

• Materials
• Travel and Training
• Professional Development

Emerging Maker Category – Supports

In this section you will be asked to choose which of the 3 supports on offer you wish to apply for:

• Studio
• Travel and Training
• Exhibition

Creative proposal outlining what you want to achieve

For both Student and Emerging Maker Categories, you will be asked to submit a Creative Proposal:

Creative Proposal (2100 – approx 350 words)

You will then be asked to fill in your Creative Proposal. In this section you outline what you will use the Future Makers support for if you were to win. You will need to give details of your proposed activity, where it will take place, what materials you are buying etc. You should show the impact that the support would have on your practice and how it will progress your creative development.

Artist/designer statement

For both Student and Emerging Maker Categories, you will be asked to submit a Maker Statement:

Maker Statement (800 characters – approx 150 words)

In this part of the form you will be asked to outline your approach to your practice. This is your opportunity to tell the judges about why you do what you do. You are selling yourself and your work here so be confident!

CV or background information

Budget breakdown explaining how funding will be used

Mentoring Package (Required Section)

As part of the application form, you must also outline how you intend to use the mentoring package.

You will be asked to:

• Identify specific skills you want to develop
• Describe the outcomes you aim to achieve
• Explain how you will apply what you learn to your practice

Mentoring Package Overview:

• Value: €1,000 (inclusive of VAT and any associated costs)
• Duration: Up to six months
• Timeline: November 2026 – April 2027
• Mentors: Choose up to two mentors based in Ireland
• Focus: Skill enhancement, professional exposure, and access to resources

A mentorship acknowledgement and payment form will be provided, and mentors will need to sign this.

This section is important—treat it as seriously as your creative proposal.

Step 3:

Submit via the Application Portal

Applications must be submitted through the official online portal.

Before submitting:

• Check all sections are complete
• Ensure images are correctly labelled and high quality
• Proofread all written responses

You should receive confirmation once your application is submitted.

Saving and submitting your application
The form gives you the option to ‘Save’ your application as you go. If you save at any point, you will be sent a link to the email address you have provided. You can click on this link to return to your in-progress application.

Once you submit, you cannot make any further changes to your application.

REMINDER: If you save your application, you must return to the link and submit it before the deadline for your application to be accepted.

Step 4:

Shortlisting Process

After the deadline, applications are reviewed by an expert judging panel.

Shortlisted applicants may be contacted for further information or clarification. Due to the volume of entries, not all applicants will progress, so ensure your initial submission is as strong as possible.

Step 5:

Award Ceremony

Winners are announced at the Future Makers Awards ceremony, organised by Design & Crafts Council Ireland.

This event celebrates emerging talent across Ireland’s craft and design sector and provides valuable visibility for recipients.