Who we support
Photo: porcelain plates with map transfers of Irish counties, gold lustre details and blue glaze; Maker: Anna Smyth; Photo credit: Sarah Cathers
You are eligible for Craft NI support if you live and work in Northern Ireland and you create quality contemporary craft.
What we mean by Quality Contemporary Craft
Craft NI’s remit is the promotion and development of the design-led contemporary craft industry in Northern Ireland. Quality is the key characteristic of all practice that Craft NI supports, and all craft that we support through our programmes and activities is subject to our quality criteria.
By this, we mean design-led contemporary work that:
– demonstrates high standards of technical skill and design;
– does not reproduce or restore but is innovative in its use of materials, aesthetic vision and/or processes;
– reflects the signature of the individual maker.
For examples of the type of work we support please see the Craft NI Directory. If you are unsure about your eligibility for our programmes, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
What we support:
Recognised craft disciplines & materials:
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Basketry & Willow
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Ceramics
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Interior Furnishings
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Furniture (including lighting)
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Glass
- Leather (including bookbinding)
- Jewellery (including horology)
- Metal (including blacksmithing and non-precious metals)
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Mixed Media
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Mosaics
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Paper
- Silversmithing & Goldsmithing (including precious metals)
- Stone (including carving, lettering and sculpture)
- Textiles (including weaving, knitting, crochet, printing on textiles, embroidery, tapestry, felting, quilting, tufting, lace)
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Wood
The following disciplines and materials are not covered by Craft NI and therefore not eligible for inclusion in the Directory:
- Candle Making
- Cosmetics
- Drawing
- Bought and decorated ceramics
- Fine Art
- Fly Tying
- Frescoes
- Food or Cake Making
- Jewellery made by assembling bought-in materials
- Painting
- Photography
- Printing
- Soap Making
- Taxidermy
- Thatching
- Toy Making