Providing support at a crucial time in the career of young makers, Future Makers creates a platform to showcase talent, as well as providing much needed-financial support.

Why apply?

• Win up to €2,500 to financially support your career
• Qualify for the annual RDS Craft Awards and a chance to win one of  5 awards of €10,000 each to support your future growth
• Achieve recognition for your talent, potential and creativity

Applications are now closed

Student Categories

Future Makers
Student of 2024

1 Award of € 2,500

This rewards excellence, creativity, technical ability and to give support to students demonstrating most potential to develop their creative practice beyond their current course of study. The Future Maker Student Award offers professional support and the opportunity for students to build their profile at a very early stage in their career.

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Sustainable Design

1 Award of €1,000

This award rewards talented and innovative designers and makers who embed sustainability into their practice. Sustainability can take many forms including responsible sourcing of materials, made-to-order production, natural dyeing and glazes, utilising processes or technology to reduce waste and reducing the carbon footprint of products. By applying for a Future Makers Support, you will automatically be considered for this award.

Materials

5 Awards of €500

These awards contribute to the cost of materials for the development of a specific piece or body of craft and design-based work that requires new, diverse or special materials for its creation. This category also includes the purchase of equipment to produce a body of work.

Travel and Training

4 Awards of €500

These awards help to fund the cost of national or international design and craft-based residency programmes or specialised course in a craft and design discipline during college or summer term. Residency funding aims to support students in the development of their practice and skills and to gain experience of international trends and best practice.

Professional Development

3 Awards of €500

These awards provide assistance for students to develop the business and marketing side of their practice. This support is designed to help prepare students for leaving college. Money can be used towards professional images of work, design work associated with promoting your practice as a maker or designer, costs associated with set up of a website and for business training/mentoring relating to finance, marketing, pitching or management.