Event Type

Maker Opportunities

Please browse our opportunities listings for the craft sector. This section includes news, opportunities, commissions, calls for makers, awards and funding opportunities.

To submit an opportunity to be listed on the website, please complete the submission form.

Click here for submission form.

Call for Applications: Rosy James Memorial Trust Award

Awards & Competitions16-Mar-2020 - 24-Apr-2020

This unique award is directed at makers steeped in practice using materials singly or in combination. Such materials might include fired clay or glass; fine or base metals; textiles using any kinds of applications; wood; plastics; paper or other materials not included in this list, where the emphasis is based upon the transformation of materials through the use of sustained practice towards a series of critical outcomes.

Deadline: Friday, 24 April 2020.
AUGUST CRAFT MONTH 2020

Calls for Makers23-Mar-2020 - 12-Jun-2020

At the time of writing, Northern Ireland’s festival of craft is due to return this August, funding permitting and public health permitting. While we can’t say with certainty that August Craft Month will go ahead, we hope that it will. If it does not, we will work with funders, makers and other stakeholders in the sector to develop alternative plans to promote and showcase craft at a regional level across Northern Ireland this year.

Deadline for event submissions: Friday, 12 June 2020.
Handmade in County Down Exhibition

Calls for Makers13-Mar-2020 - 01-May-2020

South Down Craft collective is seeking expressions of interest from County Down based artists and makers to submit work for an August Craft Month exhibition at Down Arts Centre titled ‘Handmade in County Down’

Deadline to apply: 1 May 2020
Future Makers Award

Calls for Makers10-Feb-2020 - 31-Mar-2020

Awarding makers, designers and craftspeople who will shape the future.

Future Makers is a Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) initiative. It offers a range of awards and supports to students and emerging makers. It is one of the largest prize-funded award programmes in Europe.

Deadline: Tuesday, 31 March 2020.
Celebrating 10 Years of the Armagh Craft Fair

Calls for Makers28-Feb-2020 - 20-Mar-2020

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council invite you to apply for participation in the 10^th annual Armagh Craft Fair 2020. Armagh Craft Fair also includes demonstrations, workshops, Food and Non-Craft Stands.

Date: Saturday, 23 May 2020, 10.30am – 5.00pm

The Palace Stables, Palace Demesne, Armagh

You may apply to take a stand as part of the Craft Fair, to provide a demonstration, workshop or all three. Craft and food produce should be handmade by the Artist/Designer/Maker or Craft Company.

Application deadline: by 5pm, Friday, 20 March 2020 by Post Only
Sell your products on our website - drop ship

Calls for Makers24-Feb-2020 - 10-Mar-2020

BOUT YEH is a popular online magazine celebrating people and places in Northern Ireland.
They are now looking for makers of arts and crafts products interested in selling their products on Bout Yeh - as listings on their online store and Social Media, as stories on their web site and Social Media, and promoted through ongoing photo and video posts in their Social Media, PR and marketing activities.
Theo Moorman Trust for Weavers

Funding & Grants15-Feb-2020 - 01-Mar-2020

Weavers living and working in the United Kingdom may apply. Whilst the Trust may fund some specialist weaving courses formal under-graduate and post-graduate studies will not be funded. Applicants need to have at least two and a half years working experience of their weaving independent of higher education (including post graduate courses) before applying. Applicants must be able to supply images of work done in the last two years.

Trustees make grants of between £500 and £5000 to weavers.

Application closing date: Sunday, 1 March 2020.
NDCG Open Call for Exhibition Proposals 2021-23

Calls for Makers10-Feb-2020 - 30-Mar-2020

National Design & Craft Gallery invite innovative, ambitious and engaging exhibition proposals from professional curators, practitioners, galleries, partners and museums. Established by the Design & Crafts Council Ireland in 2000, National Design & Craft Gallery is Ireland’s leading centre for contemporary craft and design.

Deadline: Monday, 30 March 2020.
Studios Available in East Belfast

Classifieds20-Jan-2020 - 10-Feb-2020

Sugary Studios in East Belfast have 2 studios available for rent from 1 February 2020.

Two private studios with sinks and 24hr access.

Studio rent includes bills and broadband.

1 medium/large studio £160

1 small studio £80

Please text Robyn on 07902952502 for a viewing.
ACNI Collection Acquisitions Open Submission Scheme

Calls for Makers20-Jan-2020 - 14-Feb-2020

This scheme gives artists an opportunity to submit details of an artwork for consideration to be purchased for the Arts Council of Northern Ireland Art Collection.

Arts Council of Northern Ireland recognises the importance of purchasing contemporary work as a vital support mechanism for artists.

Deadline: Friday, 14 February 2020, 4pm.
Call For Facilitators For The Bushmills Courthouse Creative Programme

Calls for Makers17-Jan-2020 - 31-Jan-2020

Enterprise Causeway wishes to receive Expressions of Interest from enthusiastic, freelance creative facilitators to join our workshop facilitator panel to deliver engaging arts and creative workshops.

Deadline: Friday, 31 January 2020
Call for Applications: Goldsmiths’ Fair 2020

Calls for Makers13-Jan-2020 - 27-Feb-2020

Are you an independent contemporary jeweller or silversmith with no more than six people at the bench?
Would you like the opportunity to present your collections to the most discerning buyers and collectors, at the most prestigious fine jewellery and contemporary silver Fair in the UK?

Applications for Goldsmiths’ Fair 2020 are now open!

Deadline: Thursday, 27 February, 12 noon.
Open Call: Materials Messages and Meaning #8

Calls for Makers09-Jan-2020 - 06-Feb-2020

Open call for Artists and Makers whose work responds to the theme: Obvious

Artists / makers based in Northern Ireland, at any stage of their career, working in any media, will be selected from an open call as part of our Materials, Messages and Meaning series, and will receive a fee for a talk and exhibiting work.

Deadline for submissions: Thursday, 6 February, 4pm

Exhibition Dates: 28 March – 24 April 2020
QEST: Scholarships and Apprenticeships

Funding & Grants06-Jan-2020 - 10-Feb-2020

If you are a talented or aspiring craftsperson you can now apply for The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) funding of up to £18,000. QEST has funded crafts people across more than 150 craft disciplines ranging from millinery to thatching, arms & armour restoration to ice sculpture and basket-weaving to musical instrument making.

This can cover traditional university or college courses, vocational training, apprenticeships or one to one training.

Deadline: Monday, 10 February 2020
New Arts Council Funds open

Funding & Grants19-Dec-2019 - 13-Mar-2020

New Arts Council Funds open

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is offering a number of funding opportunities under three new programmes. Thanks to investment from the Department for Communities, three new funding programmes will offer support for arts organisations across Northern Ireland.

Arts organisations will be invited to make an expression of interest to the following funding programmes.

Programme one: Rural Needs Small Grants Programme

Programme two: New Commissioning Programme for Creative Innovation

Programme three: Pilot Premium Payments Programme
Grand Opera House Call for Facilitators

Community1-Dec-2019 - 3-Jan-2020

As part of the Grand Opera House's restoration & development project 2020, the theatre is seeking practitioners to assist with the delivery of the programme of work which will include one-off workshops, weekly workshops and longer-term projects in drama, dance, poetry, musical theatre, scriptwriting, creative writing, literary arts & visual arts.

Application Deadline: Friday 3 Jan, 2020, by 4pm.
Design & Crafts Council Ireland: Invitation to Tender

Calls for Makers01-Dec-2019 - 10-Jan-2020

Contract for tender for the position of Ceramics Skills & Design Co-ordinator, Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI).

Deadline: Friday 10 Jan, 2020.
Open Call for Amberif Design Award 2020

Awards & Competitions1-Dec-2019 - 12-Dec-2019

Seeking jewellery with amber as a commentary on ultimate beauty, the Amberif Design Award is an international competition for the Design of Jewellery with the use of Amber in its creation.

Application Deadline: Wednesday 12 Feb 2020.
Open Call: Platinum Jewellery Design Competition 2020

1-Dec-2019 - 5-Feb-2020

In the creation of Jewellery for lightweight laser cut designs, the purpose of this unique competition is to design and create modern jewellery to be used in laser print methods. Whilst sourcing new jewellery designers to become part of PGI China's jewellery network.

Application Deadline: Wednesday 5 Feb, 2020.
2020 AJF Young Artist Award

Awards & Competitions1-Dec-2019 - 12-Jan-2020

The Art Jewellery Forum (AJF) Young Artist Award and grant program recognises innovative work created by a jewellery artist early in their career. Through the AJF Young Artist Award, AJF supports new and exciting work that will direct the future development of the field.

Application Deadline: Sunday 12th Jan, 2020
Irish Design Residency at the CCI Paris: Applications Open

1-Dec-2019 - 8-Jan-2020

Applications are now being accepted for the Irish Design Residency at the Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris - a partnership between CCI and the Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI). Through the residencies and its diverse cultural programme, the Centre Culturel Irlandais (CCI) showcases Ireland's dynamic contemporary culture on an international stage.

Application Deadline: Wednesday 8 Jan 2020, 5pm.