Future Makers Award for Mayo glass artist Laura Quinn

GLASS artist Laura Quinn, originally from Mayo and now based in the UK, has been awarded by the Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) Future Makers programme.

Some 28 students and emerging designers and craftspeople received awards and supports totalling €25,000 through the organisation’s Future Makers programme.

The announcement took place at a virtual awards ceremony , which was led by Toby Scott, design strategist and DCCI board member.

Laura received exhibition support of €1,000, with the judges commenting that ‘she is to be commended on her juried selection for the prestigious ‘Collect’ exhibition and submitted an exciting and ambitious proposal that will make the audience see glass in a new way. It is a wonderful opportunity to be able to support that.’

You can view Laura’s work here - https://www.lauraquinndesign.com/about

Future Makers Awards & Supports is one of the largest prize-funded award programmes in Europe for students and emerging makers. The programme, which was established in 2009, assists the next generation of Irish designers and makers at a pivotal stage in their professional development.

Future Makers helps recipients to develop a career in the design and craft industry with exhibition supports, studio supports, materials supports, travel and training supports along with Future Makers of the Year Awards, design awards, and craft skills awards.

Future Makers is one of DCCI’s programmes which support and invest in a new generation of talent in the craft and design sector. Divided into student and emerging maker categories and covering a wide range of disciplines, Future Makers recognises and rewards vision, innovation and excellence in both making and the creative process.

Following a call-out for entries in March, Future Makers 2020 received the highest number of entries to date with 232 online applications submitted and assessed through a formal judging process.

The successful applicants demonstrated design thinking, innovation and creativity, traditional and contemporary techniques, as well as skilful execution. Those selected come from come from a broad range of disciplines; from fashion design to woodturning, embroidery to jewellery design, across the island of Ireland.