Winners Announced for Top Scottish Craft Prize

Established and emerging makers were celebrated for their exemplary work at the annual awards ceremony held at V&A Dundee, last month. This year, the awards were hosted by Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, University of Dundee.

Created in 1995 to commemorate the deaths of Deirdre Inches and her husband Malcolm Carr, the objectives of The Inches Carr Trust are centred on the aspects of the decorative arts and music in which the Carrs had a keen interest in. Deirdre Inches was the only child of Ian and Betty Inches who ran the long-established Edinburgh firm of Hamilton & Inches, silversmiths and jewellers. Malcolm Carr was an expert in antique jewellery and particularly cameos.

The Inches Carr Trust provides financial support for both the development and the appreciation of decorative arts in Scotland, including contemporary craft work. Each year, it offers the Graduate Craft Awards and Craft Bursaries to local designer/makers.

This year, the graduates awarded were Ciara Neufeldt (Fine Art, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, University of Dundee), Mariam Syed (Textile Design, the Glasgow School of Art), Eve Campbell (Textile Design, the Glasgow School of Art) and Lucy Caster (Textile Design, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, University of Dundee). The graduate winners, who are all recent graduates of Scottish art colleges and institutions, each receive £2500.

Image: Lucy Caster / Photographer unknown

As well as being an award ceremony, shortlisted graduates are encouraged to act as the host of their respective tables, with artists, craftworkers and businesses from around Scotland being invited to the showcase of up-and-coming creative talent.

This year’s Craft Bursaries were awarded to Edinburgh-based makers Carrie Fertig, Jeff Zimmer, and Isabelle Moore. Each maker received £5000 to develop new work that will demonstrate an element of the Carrs themselves and enhance their practices.

The judges for this year’s awards were Sarah Rothwell (National Museums Scotland), Sheila Murray (Creative Scotland), and designer/maker Jennifer Gray. The awards were designed by jewellery and metal design students who were split into teams:

Team 1: Ben Marshall, Rachel McLaren and Laura Porteous
Team 2: Finlay Grant, Amber Doughty, Harlequin May and Hannah Keddie

Image: Isabelle Moore / Photographer unknown

Craft Bursaries

Craft Bursaries are awarded in March each year and applicants must be professional makers working in Scotland and having worked in their practice for at least five years.

The purpose of the bursaries is to help established makers to push the boundaries of their practice and to make innovative new developments in their work. Part of an award could enable a successful applicant learn a new skill, or significantly improve their existing skills, to achieve these objectives.

New Craft Awards for Recent Graduates

These are relatively new awards, first created in 2016, for the advancement of craftwork either undertaken in or associated with Scotland. Up to four awards will be made each year. Each award will be £2500.

Applicants for the 2019 awards graduated from 2015 to 2018 from the following establishments: Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, Edinburgh College of Art, Glasgow School of Art, Gray's School of Art, Heriot Watt University School of Textiles & Design, and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

The purpose of the awards is to encourage recent graduates to develop their skills and knowledge within the craft field.

If you are a maker looking to develop your practice, you can find out more about how the Inches Carr Trust can help by visiting: www.inchescarr.org.uk