Make Award finalists announced
A scene from the 2023 Make Award opening at Australian Design Centre, Sydney. Photo: Amy Piddington
Australian Design Centre (ADC) is proud to present the second MAKE Award: Biennial Prize for Innovation in Australian Craft and Design. Established by ADC in 2023, this is the richest non-acquisitive prize for craft and design in Australia, with a $35,000 cash prize for the winner and $10,000 for second place. The 2025 winner will be announced on Friday 10 October, opening night of the exhibition featuring the 36 MAKE Award finalists, which runs from 10 October – 19 November 2025 at ADC in Sydney before going on tour.
The finalists were selected from 197 entries from around Australia. For the 2025 MAKE Award, Australian artists, craftspeople and designer makers were encouraged to submit a work that demonstrates innovation in technique or material use, and is an extension of their usual practice. A total of 197 entries were received from around Australia across the fields of ceramics, glass, furniture, metal, jewellery, textiles and fibre.
Finalists
Jin Ah Jo; Ash Allen; Julie Bartholomew; Roseanne Bartley; Emma Bugg; Melissa Cameron; Scott Chaseling; Vita Cochran; Kirsten Coelho; Zara Collins; Laura Deakin; Lynda Draper; Dan Elborne; Caren Elliss; Jason Fitzgerald; Neville French; Jess Hall; Kirsten Haydon; Anke Kindle; Phong Lai; Cinnamon Lee; Noel Murphy; Sharon Peoples; Nicole Polentas; Jake Rollins; Jennifer Robertson; Hugo Rucks; Jeffrey Sarmiento; Lotte Schwerdtfeger; Gabbee Stolp; Bolaji Teniola; Jane Theau; Blanche Tilden; Alice van Meurs and Sarrita King; Zoe Veness; Melinda Young
Roseanne Bartley, Alphabet of Rings, mulga wood. Image courtesy ADC
Judges
The 2025 MAKE Award judges are Lisa Cahill, CEO and Artistic Director, Australian Design Centre; Simone LeAmon, Curator of Contemporary Design and Architecture, National Gallery of Victoria; Brian Parkes, Chief Executive Officer, JamFactory; and Vipoo Srivilasa, artist and inaugural 2023 MAKE Award Winner with his intricate and uplifting ceramic artwork Diverse Dominion Deities (pictured above).ADC CEO and Artistic Director Lisa Cahill said, “This second iteration of the MAKE Award attracted a huge number of entries from across the spectrum of contemporary craft and design practice. Innovation and a high level of skill were outstanding in the entries this year. Finalists have pushed the boundaries of material use and I am excited to see their work in the exhibition, as well as selecting the winner.”
Jake Rollins, sofa made from discarded golf balls. Image courtesy ADC
About the MAKE Award
The MAKE Award: Biennial Prize for Innovation in Australian Craft and Design is a major national craft and design innovation award initiated by Australian Design Centre, made possible by a generous private donation. The aim of the MAKE Award is to acknowledge the richness and diversity of creative talent in craft and design practice, and to extend ADC’s support for and celebration of the contemporary Australian craft and design community.
Unique in Australia, the MAKE Award is inspired by international award programs such as the Burke Prize at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York, and the LOEWE FOUNDATION Craft Prize. The inaugural MAKE Award in 2023 was won by Vipoo Srivilasa with Jessica Murtagh in second place and a high commendation for Liz Williamson.
2025 MAKE Award key dates
Winner announced: 10 October 2025, opening night
Exhibition at ADC Sydney: 10 October – 19 November 2025
Exhibition at JamFactory, Adelaide: 5 December 2025 to 12 April 2026