The German Crafts Association (BK) (Bundesverband Kunsthandwerk), a member of the European Crafts Alliance, has announced the launch of the first German Crafts Award.
The national prize will be presented for the first time in November 2025 and includes a main award of 5,000€. In addition, three commendations of 500€ each will recognize outstanding design and craftsmanship.
The award is part of the German Crafts Collection 2025, now in its second year. This initiative highlights 30 exceptional works by German craftspeople through a digital showcase and a physical exhibition.
The list of nominees offers a fascinating insight into current trends in contemporary German craft. A strong awareness of sustainability runs through the selection – from upcycling heritage materials such as old window frames and bog oak to exploring durability, repairability and recycled fibres. Equally striking is the spirit of material innovation, with makers pushing boundaries by stabilizing charcoal for jewellery, using paper as a sculptural medium, and developing new composite techniques.
Each work reveals a deep dialogue between material, form and function. The pieces embody refined craftsmanship, a sensitivity to design, and the ability to create objects that move, challenge and inspire. In an age of fast production and instant replacement, values such as longevity, individuality and material awareness have regained their importance. Craft responds with time, with quality, and with character.
First presented in 2022, the German Crafts Collection continues to evolve as a showcase for the quality and diversity of contemporary German craft. The 2025 exhibition will take place at Handwerksform Hannover from 22 November to 14 December, with the award ceremony taking place on 21 November.
This new initiative strengthens national recognition for craft excellence, bringing Germany in line with other countries like Spain (Premios Nacionales de Artesanía via Fundesarte) and Malta (Premju Ġieħ l-Artiġjanat via Malta Crafts Foundation). This is a very important milestone for crafts, especially as the Nordic Council recently voted against a similar prize for the Nordic crafts put forward by Nordic Network of Crafts Associations.
The German Crafts Collection 2025 is supported by the European Crafts Alliance Financial Support to Members as part of the CraftsNet project co-funded by the European Union.
Photo: BK