Call for Early Career Makers: Rising Stars 2025
Rising Stars is a nationally recognised platform designed to support and celebrate early career makers, including students and graduates from BA and MA programmes in crafts, design, and applied arts across the UK. As one of the oldest arts charities in the country, New Ashgate Gallery has a long history of fostering emerging talent. The programme offers a vital first step into the marketplace, featuring a curated selling exhibition, further career opportunities, and audience development.
What We Offer:
- A curated exhibition at New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham, connecting new makers with collectors and the art community.
- A catalogue to promote the selected makers.
- One maker will be awarded a solo exhibition at the New Ashgate Gallery in 2026. The maker and a runner-up will receive a 1-2-1 coaching session with Caroline Jackman. With over 20 years of experience, Caroline is the founder of Creative Business Growth and a former Head of Craft Business Skills at the Crafts Council. She is a Trustee for New Ashgate and an Advisor for the Radcliffe Trust.
Why Rising Stars Matters:
Over the years, Rising Stars has successfully helped hundreds of emerging makers launch their careers. Previous participants have gone on to secure representation by leading galleries, win prestigious awards, and establish successful practices.
By supporting Rising Stars, funders and partners contribute to diversity in the arts, support the next generation of talent, and engage with Farnham’s vibrant creative community, part of the World Craft Town initiative.
Rising Stars 2025 addresses underrepresentation in the crafts sector. We commit a minimum of five exhibition places to makers from Black, Asian, and ethnically diverse backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ communities, and those with visible or non-visible disabilities.
Key Dates:
- Exhibition: 15 March – 26 April 2025
- Private View and Awards Ceremony: 14 March 2025, 6-8 pm
Selected makers will also have the opportunity to showcase with Dan Goode of Making Goode at Handmade festivals in 2025. Details, including reduced participation fees, will be shared in the summer of 2025.
Who Can Apply:
- Eligibility: Early career makers (less than three years in business or still studying). Business registration with HMRC or evidence of work sold is required.
- Scope: Makers must be based in England, Scotland, or Wales. We regret that we cannot accept applications from makers in Northern Ireland due to Brexit-related restrictions. However, makers in Northern Ireland are welcome to email us to express interest in future opportunities.
- This opportunity is for makers looking to work with galleries and actively sell their work.
- Prototypes are not accepted.