DESIGN & CRAFTS COUNCIL IRELAND ANNOUNCE FUTURE MAKERS WINNERS WITH A TOTAL AWARDS VALUE OF €25,000

Tuesday, 19th September 2023: Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) today announced the 26 winners of the Future Makers Awards 2023. Established in 2009, Future Makers is a DCCI initiative which recognises talent, potential and creativity. The awards aim to support the next generation of makers, designers, and craftspeople to take the step from training into enterprise as well as fostering the growth of Ireland’s renowned design and craft sector. With a total awards value of €25,000, it is one of the largest prize-funded design and craft award programmes in Europe. The Future Makers Awards is the qualifying competition for the RDS Craft Awards.

The 2023 Overall Emerging Maker Winner was announced as ceramicist Cora Cummins from Co Waterford, and fashion designer Olwen Bourke from Co Dublin took home the Sustainability Award for 2023. Meanwhile, in the student and recent graduates’ category, ceramicist Paul Griffin from Co Limerick was announced as Overall Student Winner. The full list of winners can be found below.

This year’s competition saw an impressive range of entries from all over Ireland, with each one demonstrating a unique approach to creating beautiful and functional works of art. From furniture and fashion design to ceramics and glassblowing, the shortlisted makers have proven their mastery of their chosen crafts, as well as their ability to push the boundaries of tradition and innovation in their chosen field.

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, with special responsibility for Trade Promotion and Digital Transformation, Dara Calleary TD, said: “I’m delighted to be part of the prestigious Future Makers Awards 2023. The design and craft sector plays an important role in terms of contribution to the overall economy, and it is an honour to witness the remarkable talent displayed by both students and emerging makers. Initiatives like Future Makers are important for nurturing and sustaining this sector. The team at Design & Crafts Council Ireland has shown real commitment to delivering this programme year after year, the standard remains high and I’m excited to see what comes next for all winners.”

Mary Jo Hoyne, Head of Craft & Education at Design & Crafts Council Ireland, said “We are delighted to announce the winners of Future Makers 2023, an initiative that recognises and rewards vision, innovation, and excellence in both making and the creative design process among students and emerging makers. It was a difficult decision for the judges involved. This year’s winning entries are inspirational, and are the epitome of creativity, the future of Irish craft, making and design are in very good hands.”

Previous award winners over the past number of years include Emerging Maker winner, designer Michael Stewart of Standing Ground, ceramicist Chloe Lennon, jeweller Genevieve Howard, fashion designers Natalie B. Coleman and Sorcha O’ Raghallaigh, designer-maker Úna Burke, furniture designer Simon Doyle, ceramic artist Kate O’ Kelly, and print block artist collective, ceramic artist and educator Owen Quinlan, amongst many others.

The judges for this year’s Future Makers include Laura Quinn, a multi-award winning maker and designer of contemporary glass sculpture and wearables, Mary Jo Hoyne, a successful senior leader in higher education and skills training, Angela Brady, chair of GANS group “10 Hands Crafts” based in West Cork, Kim Ling Morris, one of three founding directors of Sample Studio, which is among the biggest artist-led studio groups in the country, and Róisín Pierce, an Irish womenswear designer committed to furthering innovative and artisanal techniques through the tradition of craftsmanship.

For further information on Future Makers, visit https://www.dcci.ie/dcci-future-makers/

ENDS