RDS National Craft Awards - changes for 2015

The RDS National Craft Awards rewards and showcases excellence in Irish Craft. Last year a major independent evaluation of these awards was undertaken by consultant Marie Brennan and as a result there will be a number of changes implemented in 2015.

The RDS National Craft Awards has two components; a competition and an exhibition. 

Open to a wide variety of craft disciplines, the competition provides an open platform for Irish craftspeople to have their work assessed by a professional judging panel of Irish and international craft experts. The prize-winning and a number of high quality entries are chosen for exhibition at the RDS during the Dublin Horse Show. The opening night of the exhibition sees annual prizes awarded to the most outstanding works of that year. The prize-winners are also displayed at the National Craft and Design Fair in December. 

The independent evaluation reviewed the entire awards process and its recommendations will be implemented in 2015. 

The RDS National Craft Awards will now be a two stream competition where the work of emerging and established makers will be judged separately. To be eligible to enter the Emerging Maker Awards entrants must be able to show that they are either:

• Students studying craft in third level institutions

        or

• Have within the last five years set up a craft business.

       or

• Those who are new to a craft discipline within the last five years, either studying via an apprenticeship or life-long learners on an informal course.

All other entrants whether professional or amateur must enter the Established Maker strand of the Awards. An Award of Excellence of €5000 will be awarded in both the Emerging and Established Maker strands.

The evaluation also recommended that categories be reduced from twenty to thirteen, which are as follows:

1.      Constructed Textiles (woven, knitted, crocheted, felted textiles and lace)

2.      Embellished Textiles (embroidery, patchwork, quilting, batik, printed textiles)

3.      Basketry

4.      Jewellery & Silversmithing

5.      Metalwork

6.      Furniture

7.      Carving

8.      Leatherwork

9.      Musical Instruments

10.  Ceramics

11.  Glass

12.  Paper and Calligraphy

13.  Woodturning

Other changes include:

·         An extension for online entries into June

·         A restriction to one entry per person

·         A removal of the first round of judging to create a fully open competition where all entries will be examined by the judging panel.

Changes in RDS structures (we now have a Communications Manager and Director) mean that there is now greater ability to help with promoting RDS Foundation activities; meaning a stronger emphasis on media coverage in the future for both the competition and exhibition.

We believe that these changes will help to create a fairer, clearer, open and more streamlined competition and exhibition with a higher profile and a clear set of objectives in line with the RDS Arts goal which is: to provide a platform that supports the transition from student to emerging artist; encouraging the pursuit of a career in visual art, craft or music.

The call for online entries for the 2015 RDS National Craft Awards will be launched in March 2015. Please keep an eye on our website www.rds.ie/craft and social media pages for more information and to access the online application form from mid-March.

RDS National Craft Competition 2014

RDS National Crafts Competition 2014

MAIN COMPETITION DATES and INFORMATION

The RDS is delighted to announce the key dates for the 2014 RDS National Craft Awards and Exhibition.  The Competition is open to any craft worker resident in Ireland or Irish craft workers based abroad and has a prize fund in excess of €26,000. An online application process will be available from early March 2014.

The outline of the main competition dates for 2014 is as follows:

●        Launch of online application form:                                                                       3 March

●        Deadline for online applications:                                                             12 May

●        Delivery of selected works to Simmonscourt for final judging                19 & 20 June

●        Collection dates for unsuccessful final round entries                                          7, 8, 9 July

●        Exhibition of winners and selected works at Dublin Horse Show:                    6 - 10 August

●        Exhibition to travel to the Hunt Museum, Limerick:                 Early Sept to Mid Oct (TBC)

Please take note of the following information relating to submissions:

●        All entrants are required to submit their entries online at www.rds.ie/crafts.  The online entry requires a completed online application form, payment online of the entry fee and upload of high resolution digital photo/s submission. Specifications for the digital image/s are detailed on the website. Completed entries must be received online before 5pm on Monday, 12 May, 2014.

●        It is vital that the digital photo submissions are of high quality as the judges first round selection will be based on them. Poor image quality may lead to work not being short-listed for the second round of judging. Digital files sent by email will not be accepted.

●        It is important that the scale, size of work and a full description of the piece should be given; including materials used, design source and function, as this information will be given to the judges. If the piece is not complete, JPEG images/drawings may be submitted as a ‘work in progress’ to illustrate the design. 

●        Online entry confirmation numbers will be sent by email to the email address provided. The entry fee is €15 and €10 for students and apprentices with written evidence of their status. An entry is defined as one piece of work or a matching set. Online application forms will be available at www.rds.ie/crafts from 3 March 2014. 

The RDS National Craft Awards is an RDS Foundation initiative and is supported by the Crafts Council of Ireland.

For further information please contact:

Dara O’Leary, Arts Programme Executive, RDS, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.

Tel: 01 240 7255    Email: arts@rds.ie

The exhibition will be open for free to the public before and not after the Horse Show (see the bottom of your post). It will be open for free on July 30, 31 and August 1.

RDS National Crafts Competition - RDS

The 2014 RDS National Crafts Competition will be open for online applications on 3rd March. 

Application forms will be accessible from their website from that date. 

Deadline for entry: 12th May

TRThe 2014 Competition will be open for online applications on 3 March.  Application forms will be accessible from this webpage from that date. - See more at: http://rds.ie/crafts#sthash.gjuXXwqp.dpuf

The 2014 Competition will be open for online applications on 3 March.  Application forms will be accessible from this webpage from that date. - See more at: http://rds.ie/crafts#sthash.gjuXXwqp.dpuf

The 2014 Competition will be open for online applications on 3 March.  Application forms will be accessible from this webpage from that date. - See more at: http://rds.ie/crafts#sthash.gjuXXwqp.dpuf

RDS Survey on the National Crafts Competition and Travelling Exhibitions

 The RDS is currently conducting an important evaluation of the annual RDS National Crafts Competition and subsequent travelling exhibitions.

The RDS would therefore welcome your thoughts and opinions on the competition. 

If you enter the National Crafts Competition every year, or indeed have never entered, your views are very important to this research process. 

The RDS would be very much obliged if you could spend 5 minutes completing their online survey

RDS National Crafts Competition and Exhibition 2013

Main Competition Dates & Information

The RDS supported by the Crafts Council of Ireland is delighted to announce the 2013 RDS National Crafts Competition and Exhibition.  The Competition is open to any craft worker resident in Ireland or Irish craft workers based abroad and has a prize fund in excess of €28,000. An online application process will be available from early March 2013.

The outline of the main competition dates for 2013 is as follows:

·         Launch of online application form                                           Early March 2013

·         Deadline for initial photo submissions (online):                    Tuesday, 30 April

·         Exhibition of winners at Dublin Horse Show:                                  7- 11 August

·         A selection of work will be selected for the RDS Travelling Craft Exhibition which will go to two venues in Northern Ireland in 2013 (mid-Antrim Museum, Ballymena and the Strule Arts Centre, Omagh) and will return to the RDS in December 2013.

Please take note of the following information relating to submissions:

·         All entrants are required to submit their entries online at www.rds.ie/crafts.  The online entry requires a completed online application form, payment online of the entry fee and upload of digital photo/s submission. Specifications for the digital image/s are detailed on the website. Completed entries must be received online before 5pm on Tuesday, 30 April, 2013.

·         It is vital that the digital photo submissions are of high quality as the judges selection will be based on them. Poor image quality may lead to work not being short-listed for the second round of judging. Digital files sent by email will not be accepted.

·         It is important that the scale, size of work and a full description of the piece should be given; including materials used, design source and function, as this information will be given to the judges. If the piece is not complete, JPEG images/drawings may be submitted as a ‘work in progress’ to illustrate the design. Specifications for images are detailed on the website. 

·         Online entry confirmation numbers will be sent by email to the email address provided. The entry fee is €15 and €10 for students and apprentices with written evidence of their status. An entry is defined as one piece of work or a matching set. Online application forms will be available at www.rds.ie/crafts. 

The RDS National Crafts Competition and Exhibition is an RDS Foundation initiative.

For further information please contact:

Dara O’Leary, Arts Programme Executive, RDS, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.

Tel: 01 240 7255    Email: arts@rds.ie