Heritage Crafts – Patron’s Award for Endangered Crafts

19 March 2026

Heritage Crafts are thrilled to announce that nominations are now OPEN for the Northern Ireland Maker of the Year Award 2026.

Supported by King Charles III Charitable Fund

This grant of £3,000, supported by Heritage Crafts’ Patron HM The King, will be awarded to an esteemed practitioner of endangered crafts whose proposal makes the best use of the funds to secure the survival of that craft. Former Heritage Crafts Chair Patricia Lovett MBE has once again donated £1,000 as a grant to the runner-up.

Eligible crafts are those categorised as ‘endangered’ and ‘critically endangered’ in the Red List of Endangered Crafts 2025 edition – see heritagecrafts.org.uk/redlist. (Please note that for the purposes of this grant, the only eligible crafts are those listed. The list of eligible crafts may be amended in future years in the light of more research.)

The winner will receive a £3,000 cash prize and will be celebrated at a high-profile Winners’ Reception in November 2026.

Click here for more information on how to nominate someone (or yourself).