Tag: Arts Awards

Open Call: Golden Fleece Award for 2026 – Applications Now Open

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

The Golden Fleece Award was founded in 2001 through a bequest by Irish artist and weaving educator, Lillias Mitchell (1915-2000). She created our friend organisation, the Irish Guild of Weavers, Spinners, and Dyers. The mission of the Golden Fleece Award is to provide resources for practising contemporary visual artists and makers to innovate and develop their artistic vision.

The annual award supports artists working in all forms of visual, craft and applied arts at critical junctures of their careers. Applicants should reside in, or originally from, the island of Ireland. Since its inception in 2002, over 100 applicants have been shortlisted for, or have received, a Golden Fleece Award.

This year, there are two main awards worth €10,000 each, along with smaller Merit or special awards:

  • Category 1: Visual Art
  • Category 2: Craft + Applied Art

Despite the Award being open equally to creative practitioners working in all forms of visual, craft, and applied arts across the two categories, historically, the majority of applications for the Golden Fleece Award have been submitted by visual artists. While the Trustees of the Award welcome these, they are also keen to continue encouraging applications to Category 2 from craftspeople, designers and makers.

For 2025, just under 290 applications were received for the 2025 Award.

  • 165 for Category 1: Visual Art and 122 for Category 2: Craft + Applied Art.

For 2024, just over 240 applications were received for the Award.

  • 197 for Category 1: Visual Art and <only> 45 for Category 2: Craft + Applied Art! 

Note: The number of applicants is much smaller than that for the Arts Council of Ireland’s Agility award. According to the Arts Council’s Twitter/X, “We received a record number of 3,279 applications for our 2024 Agility Award”.

One can also read past shortlisted Golden Fleece Award submissions from individual artists and craftspeople to gain an understanding of the judging. It is fascinating and inspiring to see. https://www.goldenfleeceaward.com/artists

For example, here is a link to the submission of 2024 shortlisted artist and tapestry weaver, Frances Crowe – https://www.goldenfleeceaward.com/artists/frances-crowe

And here is a link to functional basketmaker Rosemary Kavanagh’s submission –https://www.goldenfleeceaward.com/artists/rosemary-kavanagh

So, feltmakers and other textile folks in Ireland, please apply for the award!

Deadline: Friday, the 28th of November, 2025, at 5 PM.

For full details and to apply, visit their website – https://www.goldenfleeceaward.com/award/about

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about the content, please follow the link to the organisation hosting the event.

Open Calls: Three Awards Applications for Makers

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Currently, three awards are open to makers in Ireland: the RDS Craft Awards, the Leitrim Design House Awards, and the Design and Craft Council of Ireland’s Future Makers Awards. Two awards are open to those not enrolled in education or recent graduates.


The RDS Craft Awards

Applications will open for the RDS Craft Awards on the 5th of May, 2025. It is a competition open to all craft makers living on the island of Ireland and Irish-born craft makers working overseas.  The work of emerging and established makers is judged separately, with specific prizes to support emerging craftspeople. The Awards will be made from a total prize fund of €60,000.

The Emerging Maker category is open to individuals who aren’t necessarily recent graduates, and there is no age limit. Instead, there are these requirements:

  • Focus on heritage, skills, and sustainable practices.
  • Practice commenced within the past 10 years, with the determination to grow their craft at home and abroad.
  • Work must be made and sourced in Ireland.

The deadline for applying is the 23rd of June. There is no fee to enter.

For more information and to apply, visit their website – https://www.rds.ie/rds-foundation/arts/craft-awards

The Leitrim Design House – National Design, Craft & Art Awards

To mark 25 years of supporting creative Irish businesses, The Leitrim Design House has launched the National Design, Craft & Art Awards to celebrate excellence in craftsmanship. The award stems from the organisation’s resilience and sustainability as a business over the past two decades.

As a reflection of this longevity, The Leitrim Design House invites makers, artists, and designers from across the country to respond to the theme of Reused Sustainability.

The overall winner will receive €2,500 and a solo exhibition at The Leitrim Design House in 2026. A Special Commendation Prize of €1,000 will also be awarded to a runner-up.

Deadline for submission of applications: Friday, the 27th of June, 2025.

For more information, please visit their website – https://leitrimdesignhouse.ie/blogs/news/the-leitrim-design-house-national-design-craft-art-awards

DCCI’s Future Makers Award

DCCI invites students and emerging makers* to apply for this opportunity to showcase their talent.⁠
⁠
Future Makers is a DCCI initiative that recognises the talent, potential, and creativity of designers and makers shaping the future.⁠
⁠
Why apply?⁠
⁠
▪️ Win up to €3,500 to financially support your career⁠
▪️Gain recognition for your talent, potential, and creativity⁠
▪️Each winner will receive a mentoring package valued at €2,000⁠

The deadline is the 20th of June.

* Emerging Makers – Currently in post-graduate studies in a craft or design discipline or graduated from full-time study between 2-6 years ago at the date of entry to Future Makers, and/or have established a craft or design enterprise in the past 6 years.

For more information, visit their website – https://www.dcci.ie/dcci-future-makers/apply-now

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Awards: The Leitrim Design House – National Design, Craft & Art Awards 2025

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland
The Leitrim Design House National esign, Craft & Art Awards.

To mark 25 years of supporting creative Irish businesses, The Leitrim Design House has launched the National Design, Craft & Art Awards to celebrate excellence in craftsmanship. The award stems from the organisation’s resilience and sustainability as a business over the past two decades.

As a reflection of this longevity, The Leitrim Design House invites makers, artists, and designers from across the country to respond to the theme of Reused Sustainability.

The overall winner will receive €2,500 and a solo exhibition at The Leitrim Design House in 2026. A Special Commendation Prize of €1,000 will also be awarded to a runner-up.

Deadline for submission of applications: Friday, the 27th of June, 2025.

For more information, please visit their website – https://leitrimdesignhouse.ie/blogs/news/the-leitrim-design-house-national-design-craft-art-awards

Their Instagram @theleitrimdesignhouse

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Reminder: Golden Fleece Award Application Deadline is Friday

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

The mission of the Golden Fleece Award is to provide resources for practising contemporary visual artists and makers to innovate and develop their artistic vision. In the previous year, only 20% of the applications received for the Golden Fleece Award were made by craft practitioners. Let’s change that this year!

The annual award supports artists working in all forms of visual, craft and applied arts at critical junctures of their careers. Applicants should reside in, or originally from, the island of Ireland.

Two €10,000 awards will be made in 2025, one in each of the two categories: Visual Art and Craft + Applied Art.

The submission deadline is 5pm on Friday, the 29th of November, 2024.

Note: Just over 240 applications were received for the 2024 Golden Fleece Award – 197 for Category 1: Visual Art and 45 for Category 2: Craft + Applied Art! (This is a much smaller number than applicants to the Arts Council of Ireland’s Agility Award. According to their Twitter/X, “We received a record number of 3,279 applications for our 2024 Agility Award”). 

One can also read the past Golden Fleece Award applications to understand the judging better.

For more information, visit the Golden Fleece Award’s website – https://www.goldenfleeceaward.com/

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Awards: Golden Fleece Award Application Open

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

The mission of the Golden Fleece Award is to provide resources for practising contemporary visual artists and makers to innovate and develop their artistic vision.

The annual award supports artists working in all forms of visual, craft and applied arts at critical junctures of their careers. Applicants should reside in, or originally from, the island of Ireland.

Two €10,000 awards will be made in 2025, one in each of the two categories: Visual Art and Craft + Applied Art.

The submission deadline is 5pm on Friday, the 29th of November, 2024.

Note: Just over 240 applications were received for the 2024 Golden Fleece Award – 197 for Category 1: Visual Art and 45 for Category 2: Craft + Applied Art! (This is a much smaller number than applicants to the Arts Council of Ireland’s Agility award: According to their Twitter/X, “We received a record number of 3,279 applications for our 2024 Agility Award”). One can also read past shortlisted Golden Fleece Award applications to understand the judging better. For example, here is a link to shortlisted artist and tapestry weaver Frances Crowe’s application – https://www.goldenfleeceaward.com/artists/frances-crowe

For more information, visit the Golden Fleece Award’s website – https://www.goldenfleeceaward.com/


Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Opportunity: Agility Awards – Arts Council of Ireland

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

The Arts Council of Ireland has opened up applications for its Agility Awards.

The Agility Award aims to support individual professional freelance artists and arts workers at any stage in their careers, with awards up to €5,000. The Agility Award grant is of up to €5,000. It is open to musicians, actors, writers, dancers, filmmakers, and visual and other artists so that they can develop their practice and are based in all four provinces of Ireland.

In 2023, 597 successful participants received funding of up to €5,000 each. (You can apply for any amount between €1,500 and €5,000.)

Deadline: Thursday, the 25th of April, 2024.

For more information, visit their website – https://www.artscouncil.ie/Funds/Agility-Award/


Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Opportunity: Fingal Artists’ Support Scheme 2024

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Fingal County Council 2024 Artists’ Support Scheme is open for applications. This funding allows professional artists to avail of up to €5,000 of an award towards travel and professional development opportunities, a residency, or towards the development of work.

The award is open to practising artists at all stages of their professional careers in music, visual art, drama, literature, film and dance. Applicants must have been born, have studied, or currently reside in the Fingal administrative area to be eligible to apply.

The funding is for projects or initiatives which will take place between 1st May and 31st December 2024.

Deadline: The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday, 1st March 2024, at 4:00pm.

For more information, visit their website – http://fingalarts.ie/fingal-arts-office/bursaries-funding-residency-schemes/artists-support-scheme/artists-support-scheme-2024

Of Interest: Arts and Creative Ireland Funding Information – Louth

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

The Arts Office of Louth County Council will hold three information sessions on the grant funding available in 2024.

Spaces in each session are limited, so please email your interest to arts@louthcoco.ie and let them know which session you would like to attend.

  • Tuesday 5th December 2023 – Dundalk Library, Roden Place – 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM.
  • Wednesday 6th December 2023 – Drogheda Library, Stockwell Lane – 6:30 – 7:30 PM.
  • Thursday 7th December 2023 – Ardee Library, Main St, Ardee – 6:30 – 7:30 PM.

After the sessions are completed, an online version will be available.

For more information, visit their website – https://createlouth.ie/arts-funding-information-sessions/

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Awards: Applications Open for the Golden Fleece Award

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

The mission of the Golden Fleece Award is to provide resources for practising contemporary visual artists and makers to innovate and develop their artistic vision.

The annual award supports artists working in all forms of visual, craft and applied arts at critical junctures of their careers. Applicants should be resident in, or originally from, the island of Ireland.

This year, two main awards worth €10,000 each – one in Visual Art and one in Craft + Applied Art – will be made from a total prize fund of €30,000.

The deadline is 5 PM, Friday, the 24th of November, 2023.

For more information, visit their website – https://www.goldenfleeceaward.com/how-to-apply/apply


Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved with hosting the event.


Opportunities: Arts and Disability Connect Info Session

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

The Arts and Disability Connect scheme is designed to support artists with disabilities to be ambitious, to develop their practice, and to connect with arts organisations and professionals in the Republic of Ireland.

Arts and Disability Connect includes Mentoring, Training, New Work, and Research and Reflection awards for individual artists with disabilities.

On Tuesday, the 19th of September, there is a Zoom information session.

Application deadline: Tuesday, the 10th of October at 4 PM.
Applicants will be contacted with their outcome by early December.

For more information, visit their website – https://adiarts.ie/artists/funding/connect/