House & garden craft prize 2026: celebrating contemporary craft
House & garden craft prize 2026: celebrating contemporary craft
House & Garden proudly announces the inaugural House & Garden Craft Prize, a landmark event recognizing the most innovative and inspiring contemporary craft artists working in the UK. This prestigious prize underscores the growing recognition of craft as a serious art form, deserving of the same critical and commercial respect as painting, sculpture, and couture.
A new spotlight for uk craft
The prize, with Sotheby’s and the Crafts Council as strategic partners, arrives at a pivotal moment for the UK’s creative industries. It aims to elevate the cultural and institutional value of contemporary craft by connecting makers with collectors, curators, and design leaders. The competition seeks to highlight artists who are redefining traditional disciplines through research, sustainable processes, and cross-disciplinary collaboration, showcasing the dynamism and evolution of British craft.
What the prize celebrates
The House & Garden Craft Prize champions work conceived with permanence and cultural significance in mind. Submissions will be assessed based on:
- Technical mastery
- Originality
- The capacity to advance a discipline
Prize details and timeline
The winner will receive significant support for artistic development, including:
- A cash bursary
- Sustained editorial exposure in House & Garden
- Mentorship from House & Garden
- Submission Deadline: 10 pm GMT, March 28, 2026
- Shortlist Notification: April 4, 2026
- Exhibition Dates: May 11-17, 2026 at Sotheby’s New Bond Street
- Winner Announcement: May 11, 2026
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for the House & Garden Craft Prize, artists must meet the following criteria:
- Be living and working in the UK
- Have created the work in the UK since January 1, 2024
- Participated in a gallery showcase or art fair within the past two years
- The work must be handmade and not have won previous awards
- The artist must wholly own the work until the end of the 2026 prize cycle
How to apply
Artists can apply by completing the official application form, ensuring all information is provided accurately. Incomplete submissions will be disqualified. The application form can be found [here](insert application link here). The judges are looking for artists who are pushing the boundaries of craft while building upon the legacy of generations of artisans.
Key dates and contact
Submission deadline: March 28, 2026, 10 pm GMT. For further information, please email [email protected] with ‘2026 House & Garden Craft Prize’ in the subject line. The decision of the panel of judges will be final.