Zoe Dennington, Crafts Council’s head of learning and participation, says: “With creative subjects increasingly squeezed in our schools, Craft School: Material World creates a vital opportunity for children and young people to learn through the messy, joyous process of making.
“We placed anti-racist and anti-ableist approaches at the heart of Craft School: Material World, building a programme that is accessible to all education settings, celebrating the progression of individual learners and the unique perspective that they bring to craft. We hope the challenge will inspire a lifelong love of making and give an insight into creative progression routes and craft careers.”
Bran Howell, The Eden Project’s education specialist, says: “The climate emergency urges all of us to look again at our demands on resources, to be more creative, careful and ingenious in finding ways to live in harmony with the natural world.
“Craft School: Material World invites young people to explore the sensory, textural and visual properties of things we might throw away and natural materials in their daily lives. We are inviting young people to create unique and beautiful objects by using everyday items and by the power of thinking sustainably, creatively and imaginatively."
Work is submitted in April 2025. Winners in each key stage, plus a teachers’ award, are announced in June 2025 at a celebration event for all participants. This is complemented by an exhibition of winners’ work at craftscouncil.org.uk. Submissions are judged by a panel of independent makers and others in the craft community.