Hello everyone!

We were delighted to learn, that for the second year running jeweller Rachel Swan has won a Future Makers Grant from the Crafts Council of Ireland. (You may remember her Q&A a few weeks ago. You can read it agian here.)

The Crafts Council of Ireland’s ‘Future Maker Awards and Grants’ provide support for the next generation of makers to learn, experience, investigate, develop, create and shape the future of Irish Craft. Future Makers Awards and Grants are designed to support students and recent graduates of full-time craft based studies or training to pursue a career in the craft industry.

This year Rachel won an Exhibitions Assistance grant which she plans to use for an international craft fair.
The Exhibitions Assistance grant is used to extend and promote opportunities for craft based exhibitions or participation in craft and design trade fairs nationally and internationally.

The awards ceremony was held in Collins Barracks on May 6th. In attendance along with the Crafts Council team was fashion designer Joanne Hynes, Sonja Perkins chief executive of Irish Arts Review and Karen Hesse of House and Home Magazine.

We are absolutely delighted for Rachel. It is truly deserved!!
She may kill me for this (!!!), but here is Rachel talking about her previous award and how valuable she finds Future Makers.