PRESS RELEASE: Nominations Opening For The Qest Sanderson Rising Star Craft Award 2026
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Sanderson, in partnership with the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST), is proud to announce that nominations for the 2026 Rising Star Craft Award will open on Monday 13 April. 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.
Sanderson, in partnership with the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST), is proud to announce that nominations for the 2026 Rising Star Craft Award will open on Monday 13 April. 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.
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, Sanderson Design Group CEO and QEST Chair Lisa Montague, former Crafts editor and QEST Ambassador, Debika Ray, The World of Interiors Style Director Ruth Sleightholme, and Hugo Macdonald, curator, consultant 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. Reflecting on her win, Hanny says: “Winning the 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.”
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 in October. 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 Sanderson Rising Craft 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.”
Deborah Pocock LVO, QEST CEO, says: “We’re hugely grateful to Sanderson for their continued support of this important craft prize which supports 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.”
About Sanderson
Founded in 1860 by Arthur Sanderson, Sanderson began as a business importing luxury French paper hangings to Britain and evolved to become one of the most renowned interior design and decorating brands worldwide. Since 1924, Sanderson has held a Royal Warrant for supplying fabrics, paint, and wallcoverings to the Royal Residences.
From importing to establishing printing works and acquiring businesses, Sanderson’s illustrious history cements it as the founding brand at Sanderson Design Group, continuing the legacy laid out by Arthur Sanderson. A pioneer in acquisitions, including the procurement of Morris & Co. in 1940 and a producer of beautiful designs, Sanderson paves the way for a future that continues to push the boundaries of heritage design.
Its treasured archive houses a vast collection of fabrics, wallpaper logbooks and printing blocks dating back to the 19th century, encapsulating its impressive history and providing a reference point for its design studio today.
Known for its exceptional quality, timelessness and quintessentially English style, Sanderson, the home of iconic florals and illustrative botanicals, offers beautifully crafted fabrics, wallcoverings, trimmings and paint for all. Layered in nostalgia, the brand continuously looks back to move forward with exceptional designs that captivate a discerning global audience.
About QEST
The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) is a charity that transforms the careers of talented and aspiring makers by funding their training and education, creating pathways to excellence and strengthening the future of the UK’s craft sector.
To date, QEST has awarded £7.5 million to almost 900 crafts people working across the UK in 130 different craft disciplines. From papermaking to thatching, ceramic conservation to sculpture, QEST supports both contemporary and traditional craft skills, as well as innovative techniques and practices. QEST is committed to empowering the next generation to see craft as a viable, fulfilling and sustainable career. Since launching its Partnership Programmes in 2023, QEST has reached over 19,000 young people and children, and supported underrepresented communities to explore craft and conservation careers.
QEST was founded by the Royal Warrant Holders Association in 1990 to celebrate the 90th birthday of HM Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother. HM The King is the Charity’s Patron.
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