Call For Makers Aged 18-25
Plas Glyn-y-Weddw and Making Little Craft invite makers and craftspeople aged 18-25 who are from or currently living in north Wales to apply for this unique Young Maker Award and to create new work for the Coed Coexist exhibition taking place at Plas Glyn-y-Weddw from May - July 2026. The award offers an individual the opportunity to undertake one week of work experience with established makers, one week of free studio use, £2,000 to realise new work and inclusion in the Coed Coexist exhibition in May 2026.
Background
In September 2024, Plas Glyn-y-Weddw in Pen Llŷn undertook a joint project with Japanese artist Junko Mori and her husband, Welsh wood artist John Egan, to deliver the Coed Coexist Symposium, held at Plas Glyn-y-Weddw. The essence of the Coed Coexist project draws our attention to trees and woodland, seeking out wider connections, desires and reliance on these ecosystems while connecting community, creativity and environmental stewardship. The project as a whole aspires to celebrate the local area and the communities based in Pen Llŷn.
Building on the success of the symposium, Junko, John and Plas Glyn-y-Weddw are working to develop the Coed Coexist wider project including this award to support and highlight the wealth of skill, thinking, and imagination of young makers in the craft sector from North Wales.
The awardee is invited to work with and/or respond to wood from a large beech tree that fell in a storm at Plas Glyn-y-Weddw in 2024 for the creation of new work. This tree and its wood are central to the Coed Coexist project both symbolically and physically and the project aspires to inspire and give a platform to the craftsmanship and ingenuity of creatives and thinkers connected to the area.
The award includes:
- £2,000 to realise a new work (inclusive of all fees including shipping work to Plas Glyn-y-Weddw)
- 1 week of work experience at Making Little Craft Studios (in wood and/or metal workshops)
- 1 week of studio use at Making Little Craft Studios in Tudweiliog (in wood and/or metal workshops)
- Wooden material from the fallen beech tree including planks, logs, canopy branches, wood chippings, sawdust and charcoal.
Support from Plas Glyn-y-Weddw and Junko Mori & John Egan throughout the project
Who can apply:
- Makers/craftspeople aged between 18-25* years old.
- Makers/craftspeople living in north Wales for the last 5 years or are originally from north Wales
- Makers working in craft mediums e.g. clay, glass, metal, wood, and fiber. We define craft as the skilled making, by hand, of tangible objects. Mediums such as painting and drawing traditionally considered ‘fine arts’ are not eligible. Please contact john@makinglittle.com if you are unsure of how your practice might sit in this regard.
- We encourage applications from underrepresented artists including from low-income backgrounds, those who are neurodivergent, LGBTQIA+ artists and artists from the Global Majority. Proposals from Welsh-speaking artists are welcomed.
- We welcome applicants from all backgrounds to apply.
*Applicants must be under 25 as of May 2026
For any enquiries: Email: john@makinglittle.co.uk
How to Apply: Submit applications by email to john@makinglittle.co.uk
Application Requirements:
Please provide a PDF with the following information:
- Biographical information included educational background, work experience etc (Max 250 words)
- Describe your practice and how you see this opportunity being of benefit to you and your work. (Max 250 words)
Images: Send up to 6 good quality jpegs of recent work (each file should be a minimum of 1MB and max 3MB). Label each file; ‘Artist name, title, year, media’.
Deadline:
Applications must be submitted by: 5pm, 31 July 2025
Selection Process:
A selection panel will assess all proposals, comprising Junko Mori & John Egan, Plas Glyn y-Weddw Director, Curator and Engagement Officer and another external selector.
Young Maker Award Timeline:
Applications Open: 1 July
Applications Close: 31 July
Applicants Notified by: 30 August
Work experience and studio time: From September onwards
Exhibition opens: May 2026
Exhibition closes: July 2026
About the project initiators:
About Making Little Craft
Making Little Craft started an event in 2017 at Cwt Tatws in Tudweiliog delivering various craft workshops by a collective of makers, artists, craftspeople and friends all with a passion to spread the desire to use your hands, make and craft. Now led by Llŷn Peninsula residents metalworker Junko Mori and woodworker John Egan, their mission is to promote hands-on activities into modern lifestyles as well as create space for people for cultural get-togethers.
Junko Mori
Junko Mori is a Japanese artist living and working in north Wales. Working primarily in metalwork sculpture, Mori’s works are aggregate pieces usually connected thematically and visually to her observations of living matter, particularly plants. Her choice of metal varies widely from silver to mild steel, as does the size and scale of her works, which range from smaller tabletop pieces to large sculptures. Her distinctive style is one of contrasts and blending, drawing on her metalworking and sculptural education in both Japan and the UK, alongside blurring the boundaries between fine art and craft. Her works are in many international museums, including the British Museum, the National Museum of Scotland and the Honolulu Museum of Art.
John Egan
John’s work is grown out of a deep appreciation of the natural environment, and the design is directly linked to it. He seeks to make beautiful lasting objects and one-off pieces, thereby locking carbon into each object made. He only uses locally sourced material, which means the footprint of every object is small and works in harmony with its surroundings.The environment and his impact on it, are his guiding principles and shape his designs.
About Plas Glyn-y-Weddw
Plas Glyn-y-Weddw, located in Llanbedrog on Wales' Llŷn Peninsula, is a Victorian gothic mansion serving as one of Wales' oldest galleries. It offers a diverse arts and culture programme with changing exhibitions, complemented by events and activities for all ages. The gallery, free to enter year-round, has museum accreditation and offers historical rooms alongside temporary exhibitions of contemporary art. The unique café, designed and made by a sculptor alongside its craft shop demonstrates its commitment to showcasing Wales’ craft and design work. The 14 acre woodland, which is part of the original gardens of the Plas is also owned by the charity and includes a network of footpaths open to the public, the main path being part of the Wales Coast Path. Annually, around 140,000 visitors, including locals and tourists, enjoy the venue, benefiting from workshops, performances, and educational programmes tailored for children, adults, and Welsh learners from a nearby language centre. Additionally, it hosts concerts, talks, and larger events, fostering a vibrant cultural hub with widespread community engagement.