The worlds of fashion and entertainment have never been closer. Actors, musicians, filmmakers, and visual artists increasingly shape the public conversation around luxury, turning runway presentations, exhibitions, and cultural events into moments followed far beyond the fashion industry. At the same time, audiences have become increasingly interested in the people behind the work itself—the makers, artists, and craftspeople whose creativity often remains outside the spotlight. As actor and producer Sarah Jessica Parker once observed, “Fashion is not a luxury. It is a language.”
This growing interest in creative talent is echoed across the cultural sector. According to UNESCO’s Creative Economy Outlook, the creative industries continue to generate employment for millions of people worldwide while craftsmanship, artistic creation, and cultural heritage remain among their most valuable assets. The report also emphasises that preserving traditional skills depends on supporting individual creators and providing opportunities for their work to reach international audiences. Awards, exhibitions, and cultural initiatives therefore play an increasingly important role in introducing new artistic voices to the public. Recognition has become an essential part of ensuring that craftsmanship continues to develop across future generations. For the tenth consecutive year, the LOEWE FOUNDATION Craft Prize continues that mission by placing individual makers at the centre of the conversation. Established in 2016, the initiative has grown into one of the most respected international distinctions dedicated to contemporary craftsmanship, celebrating artists whose work combines technical mastery with original creative thinking.
Applications are now open for the 2027 edition, welcoming craftspeople over the age of eighteen from around the world whose practice is rooted in hand-made production. Over the past decade, submissions have ranged from ceramics and textiles to jewellery, lacquerware, paper, and bookbinding, demonstrating the remarkable diversity of contemporary craft. Every work submitted must be an original creation, produced either entirely or partly by hand, highlighting the importance of individual authorship throughout the selection process.
An international panel of specialists reviews every application before selecting thirty finalists according to artistic vision, originality, technical execution, innovation, material quality, and the distinctive character of each maker’s work. These finalists will present their pieces together in a European exhibition in the spring of 2027, offering visitors an opportunity to discover artists working across disciplines and cultural traditions.
The jury for the anniversary edition brings together established and newly appointed voices from the international creative community. Mixed-media artist Ibrahim Mahama joins the panel alongside 2026 Craft Prize winner Jongjin Park, while LOEWE Creative Directors Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez return after participating in the selection process for the first time last year. Their presence reflects a wider dialogue between fashion, contemporary art, and craftsmanship, where creative disciplines increasingly influence one another.
The winning artist will receive a prize of €50,000, while two additional special mentions will each be awarded €5,000. Yet the significance of the LOEWE FOUNDATION Craft Prize has always extended beyond financial recognition. For many participants, the exhibition itself becomes an international platform through which museums, galleries, collectors, curators, and the wider creative community discover new talent. In an era when audiences are increasingly fascinated by the personalities behind creative work, the prize continues to remind us that some of the most influential voices in contemporary culture are not always found on stage or in front of the camera, but in the workshops where ideas first take shape.
