Young Craft Booster 2025/26
Young Craft Booster 2025-2026 will benefit duos of established artisans and fellows based in Ireland, Italy, and Spain whose craft has a strong connection to the local area and heritage. The Young Craft Booster is a yearly 7-month sponsored professional integration programme designed for duos of master artisans and craft graduates.
This edition of the programme is taking place from September 2025 to March 2026 in partnership with local members of the Foundation’s network.
Meet the new duos representing Ireland
Introducing Suzanne O’Sullivan & Emeline Mézières — a dynamic Irish-French duo redefining glass artistry as part of the Young Craft Booster programme. Specialising in glass sculpting and glassfusing, their partnership blends tradition, innovation, and sustainability.
Suzanne O’Sullivan, a Fine Art graduate and Cork Arts’ Society Student of the Year (2001), began her artistic journey through textiles, weaving, and basketry before discovering her true medium: glass. Her work, shaped by global training experiences from Thailand to Turkey, explores themes of erosion and decay—transforming fragility into timeless beauty. Based in Fermoy, she’s also a proud member of Blackwater Valley Makers, contributing to Ireland’s vibrant craft scene.
Emeline Mézières, hailing from the Paris region, brings a fresh, exploratory spirit to the collaboration. Currently studying at the National School of Glass in Auvergne, she merges her background in history and art with a passion for glassmaking, drawing inspiration from her travels and a thirst for creative freedom.
Together, Suzanne and Emeline are pushing boundaries by experimenting with crushed glass bottles—a sustainable, expressive material that speaks to both environmental consciousness and artistic innovation. Their work promises to bring a bold, contemporary voice to the world of glass craft.
Meet Adrienne Diamond & Fiona Byrne — a powerhouse Irish duo breathing new life into glass sculpting and glassblowing as part of the Young Craft Booster programme. Their partnership blends decades of experience with bold, contemporary vision, all rooted in a deep respect for the environment and community.
Adrienne Diamond is a seasoned glass artist and environmental advocate whose creative journey spans over 40 years. Her latest venture, The GlassFarm—an open-access studio backed by a LEADER award—is a testament to her belief in glass as a medium for transformation and connection. Through workshops, masterclasses, and collaborative projects, Adrienne is cultivating a space where sustainability and creativity go hand in hand.
Fiona Byrne, a graduate of NCAD Dublin, reconnected with glass during the 2020 lockdown, sparking a renewed passion for sculptural experimentation. Her work explores the interplay between body, material, and place, resulting in intricate forms that invite reflection and dialogue. With plans to launch a hot glass studio in Ireland’s South East, Fiona is committed to fostering shared knowledge and artistic growth.
Together, Adrienne and Fiona are shaping the future of Irish glassmaking—merging hands-on skill-sharing with eco-conscious studio practices. Their collaboration is more than craft; it’s a movement toward sustainable artistry and inclusive creative spaces.
Participants will develop business and marketing knowledge, as well as design and hands-on practical skills through transmission from one generation to the next. The EU Young Craft Booster Programme is presented by Design & Crafts Council Ireland, powered by the Young Craft Booster and co-funded by European Union.
*Young Craft Booster (associated with Homo Faber Fellowship programme by Michelangelo Foundation)
