Open Call: Expressions of Interest for Craft Showcase within the RUA 144th Annual Exhibition
3 July 2025
Deadline:
We are inviting expressions of interest from craft makers for a special curated Craft NI Showcase within the Royal Ulster Academy’s 144th Annual Exhibition — Northern Ireland’s largest and longest-running visual arts show.
This is an exciting opportunity for Craft NI to present contemporary Northern Irish craft to an engaged local audience. We are seeking work that demonstrates a strong creative voice and a clear understanding of material and making, in particular one-off exhibition pieces, that will assert the distinct strengths of craft.
We welcome applications from professional craft makers who were born, or who are living or working in Northern Ireland. We are aiming to bring together a small group of around 10–12 makers whose work will contribute to a cohesive and compelling presence within the wider RUA exhibition. This is a chance to showcase the richness and relevance of craft to audiences who may not regularly encounter it and to spotlight makers whose work might not typically appear in this context.
Makers will be working in one of the recognised craft disciplines (HERE)
The exhibition runs from mid-October 2025 until January 6th 2026 and will take place in the Ulster Museum. The Exhibition usually attracts a footfall of over 100,000 visitors while it is open.
To express your interest, please send:
- A short artist/maker statement (max 250 words)
- Up to 5 images of recent work (or sketches of work in progress if proposing new work)
- A brief CV or summary of your practice
To: katherine.mcdonald@craftni.org with ‘RUA’ in the subject heading.
Don’t hesitate to contact Katherine McDonald at Craft NI if you have any queries on 028 9032 9342 or on 07811 332056
Key Dates:
Expressions of Interest: Friday 8th August
Aiming to notify: Friday 15th August
Delivery of work:
TBC
