Nominations Open for the QEST Sanderson Rising Star Craft Award 2026

13th April 2026

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In partnership with Sanderson, we’re delighted to announce that nominations for the 2026 Rising Star Craft Award open today and close on Friday 5 June. Now in its second edition, the biennial award celebrates emerging craftspeople who demonstrate exceptional skill, dedication to their discipline, and a meaningful contribution to their community and the wider craft sector. The winner will receive a £25,000 prize to support the development of their craft.

Lisa Montague, QEST Chair and CEO of Sanderson Design Group, says: “We are delighted to see the Award return for its second iteration – a fantastic opportunity to celebrate emerging talent and champion the strength of British creative industries. Nurturing and preserving heritage craft, and opening the doors to the world of design, sit at the very heart of our mission at Sanderson. It’s inspiring to witness the breadth, depth, and diversity of young craftspeople in our industry, and I look forward to meeting this cycle’s cohort.”

Nominations are open to UK makers, submitted by a credible referee, and are limited to early-to-mid career craftspeople with two to seven years of professional practice who demonstrate strong foundational skill, commitment to their craft, and ongoing development of their expertise.

Finalists will be selected by a panel of judges including QEST CEO Deborah Pocock LVO, Sanderson Design Group CEO and QEST Chair Lisa Montague, journalist and QEST Ambassador, Debika Ray, The World of Interiors Style Director Ruth Sleightholme, and Hugo Macdonald, co-founder of Bard and design critic at Wallpaper*. They will be joined by Hanny Newton, recipient of the inaugural 2024 award, recognised for her pioneering use of straw as a sustainable alternative to metal threads. The selection process includes an interview at Voysey House – Sanderson’s historic headquarters and home to its design studios and archive – followed by an award ceremony where the winner will be announced on Thursday 8 October.

2024 Winner, Hanny says: “Winning the first QEST Sanderson Rising Star Craft Award marked a pivotal moment in my career. It has brought greater recognition of my work and opened doors to exciting international opportunities and collaborations. Allowing me to show my craft practice to a wider audience has, in turn, helped to raise awareness of the potential of straw as a material. It has also been a huge boost to my confidence, inspiring me to keep dreaming big and surpass my own expectations for what I can achieve within my practice.”

Deborah Pocock LVO, QEST CEO, says: “We’re hugely grateful to Sanderson for their continued support of this important craft prize which helps craftspeople at a pivotal moment in their journeys. Through opportunities like this, we can champion the power of craft, give new voices a platform, and help ensure the next generation of makers can develop their skills and ambitions. We’ve already seen the transformational impact the prize can have through Hanny Newton, the inaugural winner, and we look forward to seeing what this year’s applicants will bring.”