Are you starting out on your career as a craft worker?  Are you established and looking for both recognition and exposure for your work?

Visual Artists Ireland is now one of the official media partners for the current RDS Student Art Awards and the National Craft Awards… You may ask so what…  BUT, The RDS National Craft Awards are open to both emerging and established craftspeople living and working on the island of Ireland and bring with them a Prize fund of €40,000, an Exhibition, and the chance to be seen by one of Ireland’s largest audiences.

Now a two strand competition, emerging and established makers will be judged separately by an independent panel of Irish and international craft experts. The RDS Craft Awards reward and showcase excellence in Irish craft. This year the 13 category prizes in each strand of the RDS National Craft Awards are sponsored by the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland. There is also a special award of €5,000 to celebrate Irish Design 2015 and an opportunity for an emerging maker to win a free stand at the annual National Craft & Design Fair in the RDS in December 2015. Winning and selected entries will be shown at the RDS National Craft Awards Exhibition at the Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show, RDS (August, 2015) and award winners exhibited at the National Crafts and Design Fair, RDS (December, 2015). See www.rds.ie/craft for more information and to access online entry forms. Deadline 10 June 2015. Prize fund €40,000.