Dubliners shortlisted for Future Makers Awards

Several Dubliners have been included in the shortlist for the Future Makers Awards that was announced last week by the Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI).

Established in 2009, Future Makers recognises the talent, potential, and creativity of the next generation of makers, designers, and craftspeople.

The initiative provides a platform to showcase skills and to help them take the step from training into enterprise with much-needed financial support.

This year’s award winners will be announced at a special event in the RDS next week on Tuesday, September 9.

The Future Makers programme is divided into student and emerging practitioner categories, covering disciplines such as ceramics, textiles, jewellery, fashion, wood, stone, furniture, glass, and digital design.

Awards are given not only for finished works but also for vision, experimentation, and innovative practice. According to DCCI, the aim is to recognise both creative potential and technical ability at an early stage in a maker’s professional journey.

Future Makers is among Europe’s largest prize-funded award schemes in the craft and design sector. Each award recipient receives a €2,000 mentoring package that provides professional guidance from experienced industry figures, in addition to financial support.

The total prize fund for 2025 amounts to €25,000, with an additional €52,000 dedicated to mentoring and expert advice.

This year’s applications were received from students and early-career practitioners from all across Ireland. Submissions reflected a broad spectrum of approaches, from traditional craft forms such as glassblowing and weaving to contemporary practices exploring sustainability, digital fabrication, and new materials.

The shortlisted candidates represent different stages of training and enterprise development, from final-year students in colleges of art and design to graduates beginning to establish independent studios.

The judging panel brings together figures with varied careers in craft, design, and contemporary art. Silversmith Victoria Donovan, who won a Kilkenny Design Workshops scholarship in 1986, offers almost four decades of experience in applied arts.

Anneliese Duffy Fallon, owner of The Linen Shirt Company and founder of Fashion Connect Ireland, brings knowledge of the Irish fashion sector and retail environment.

London-based artist Leah Capaldi is recognised for her conceptual work at the boundaries of sculpture and performance.

Brankica Zilovic, a French-Serbian artist and educator, contributes expertise in textile art and international practice. Belén Llamas-Ferrier brings more than 20 years’ experience as a professional art framer, while Irish designer Róisín Pierce is known for material-based experimentation and interdisciplinary practice.

CEO of Design & Crafts Council Ireland, Mary Blanchfield, spoke about the awards when announcing the shortlist.

“This initiative is one of the most important platforms Design & Crafts Council Ireland has to celebrate and support emerging talent in Irish design and craft,” she said.

“The shortlisted makers represent the next generation of creative excellence – innovative thinkers and skilled craftspeople who are ready to take the significant step from training into enterprise.

At Design & Crafts Council Ireland, we believe in nurturing potential and providing real opportunities for growth. Future Makers is not just about recognition, it is about tangible support, financial backing, and the chance to build a sustainable creative career.

“We are proud to stand behind these talented individuals as they begin their professional journey, and we look forward to seeing the incredible contributions they will make to Ireland’s vibrant design and craft sector in the years ahead.”

Judge Anneliese Duffy Fallon said she’s constantly “blown away” by the wealth of creative talent in Ireland.

“It’s a national treasure, one that deserves to be nurtured, celebrated, and protected for future generations,” she continued.

“The makers of tomorrow are already here, and their vision is shaping our cultural legacy. Supporting them isn’t just an investment in creativity, it’s an investment in who we are.”

Further information about Future Makers 2025 is available at www.dcci.ie/dcci-future-makers.