RDS Craft Awards
Irish craft is a defining part of Ireland’s cultural heritage, and the RDS has supported its development for almost 300 years. Since the National Competition for Applied Arts was introduced in 1968, the programme has grown into today’s RDS Craft Awards, maintaining a commitment to excellence, innovation and the preservation of heritage skills. This long history includes milestones such as the 1890 Branchardière Fund and the influence of craft advocate Muriel Gahan, whose belief that “the value of our crafts cannot be reckoned in money; they are part of our national tradition handed down through generations” continues to guide the programme. Following recent sector consultation, the Awards now offer a €62,000 prize fund supporting makers at every stage, reaffirming the RDS commitment to craftsmanship, sustainability and Ireland’s craft traditions.
Open call for applications for the 2026 RDS Craft Awards
Deadline Extended - 20th April 2026
The RDS Craft Awards comprise three categories with a total prize fund of up to €62,000. Now in the second year of the fully reimagined format, the Awards support makers at all stages of their careers, with all verified applications reviewed by an independent judging panel. Entry is free, and the Awards are open to craft makers living on the island of Ireland as well as Irish born makers working overseas.
Next application window: 2 March – 13 April 2026. Links to all category application forms will be provided below.
The programme includes:
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Established Maker Award – Supporting experienced makers to sustain or scale their practice.
Maximum individual award: €20,000.
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Emerging Maker Award – Providing early career support for makers within their first ten years.
Maximum individual award: €5,000.
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Branchardière Lace Bursary – Relaunched for 2026, offering up to €2,000 for training, research, creative experimentation, mentoring, residencies, and collaborative projects in Irish lace and Irish crochet.
Together, the three categories ensure meaningful, targeted support for makers from emerging talent to established makers.
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RDS Craft Awards Rules of Entry 2026
Applicants should consult the guidelines provided for each award category for full information on eligibility, criteria, and submission requirements. Updated 2026 guidelines will be published alongside the application forms.
Eligibility
The Awards are open to:
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Craft makers living on the island of Ireland
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Irish born craft makers working overseas
Categories
The RDS Craft Awards is a three category competition:
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Established Maker Award
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Emerging Maker Award
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Branchardière Lace Bursary
Each category has its own specific guidelines, and applicants must select the category most appropriate to their level of experience and practice.
Conditions of Entry
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Only one entry per applicant is permitted.
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Entry is free.
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All entries must be submitted via the online application forms.
Next application window: 2 March – 13 April 2026.
Links to all category forms will be provided.
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Entries are evaluated on craftsmanship, design, creativity, and presentation.
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The judges’ decisions are final, and no correspondence will be entered into following adjudication.
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The RDS Craft Awards judging panel is an independent panel of craft & design professionals engaged by the RDS to assess and judge the awards.
2026 RDS Craft Awards Judging Panel Members will be announced shortly.
For further insight into the work of the RDS and the Irish craft community, we invite you to listen to Head of Library & Archives, Natasha Serne, and Research Ireland Enterprise Fellow, Dr Deirdre Foley, in episode 7 of the RDS Library & Archives podcast series Bearing Fruit: Tales from the RDS Archives, where they explore the rich history of the RDS and its longstanding support of Irish craft.
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"I’m delighted to receive this prestigious award. As I’ve striven to create pieces whose aesthetic lies in craftsmanship, precision and authenticity, gaining this recognition from such a respected panel of judges is a powerful boost for me in the early stages of my career. As a Lithuanian craftsperson putting down roots in Ireland, an award from the RDS has a particular significance in making me feel a part of a vibrant and welcoming cultural environment." - Egle Banyte, Jeweller, 2019 RDS Craft Award Winner
