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Eligibility criteria

Who can apply?

Below are some general rules that apply to all applicants. You must be:

  • Over 18

  • Resident in the Republic of Ireland – You need a PPS number to be able to apply

  • Practicing in one of the DCCI-recognised craft and design disciplines

  • Meet the criteria of either of the two Future Makers categories

Student and Recent Graduate category criteria:

Currently studying, training or undertaking an apprenticeship full-time in a design or craft based discipline OR be one year graduated from full time study in a design or craft-based discipline. A minimum course duration of 12 months is required. Student card or other proof of above education will need to be provided. Post-graduate students should apply to the Emerging Maker category.

Emerging Maker category criteria:

Currently in post-graduate studies in a craft or design discipline or graduated from full-time study between 2-6 years ago at the date of entry to Future Makers and/or have established a craft or design enterprise in the past 6 years. Proof of education history, self-employed status or company incorporation will need to be supplied.

Please note there are a number of ‘cut-offs’ which apply to the programme to enable fair and open competition.

  • If you have received any Future Makers award or support in the last 12 months, you cannot apply at this time unless you are moving from the Student & Recent Graduate Category to the Emerging Maker Category.

  • If you have received an ‘Overall Winner Award’ in either the Student & Recent Graduate Category or the Emerging Maker Category, you cannot win this title again.

  • If you enter the Emerging Makers Category under the qualifying condition that you are 2-6 years out of full time study but have not yet established your enterprise, your Emerging Maker status will be taken from this date. This means that if you subsequently set up a craft or design business this does not reset the clock and allow you another 6 years in which you can apply to the programme.

The Education Team at DCCI do their best to set the eligibility criteria for the Future Makers programme to be fair, clear and verifiable. We note that we cannot foresee every individual’s situation and that people come to practice in this sector in many diverse ways.

DCCI reserve the right to make eligibility decisions on applicants who fall outside of the above criteria on a case-by-case basis.

Ineligible applications

Applications will be considered ineligible if:

  • Your application or supporting information arrives after the submission deadline

  • You don’t fill out all of the relevant sections of the application form or you don’t provide all of the information requested

  • Your application does not fit the purpose of the specific support applied for

  • You submit images that are not of recent work; work submitted must be less than 2 years old

  • Submitted images received a Future Makers support or award in 2023, 2022 or 2021

  • You have commenced or completed activities proposed in your application prior to awards/supports being announced

  • There is any evidence of canvassing of Future Makers judges by yourself or on your behalf

  • Your proposal is already being funded by the Design & Crafts Council Ireland

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