President’s Award 2023 finalists announced

The three finalists for the fourth President’s Award for Endangered Crafts, established by Heritage Crafts President The Former Prince of Wales, have been announced. 

Each year the President’s Award presents £3,000 to the winning heritage craftsperson who will use the funding to ensure that craft skills are passed on to the future, with an additional £1,000 for runner-up bursaries provided by Patricia Lovett MBE and Kate Hobhouse.

The three finalists for 2023 are (in alphabetical order):

• Lucy Barlow, straw hat maker
• Michael Johnson, coppersmith
• David French, withy pot maker

The winner will be announced at a prestigious Winners’ Reception at the Vicar’s Hall, St George’s House, Windsor Castle on 15 November 2023.

The finalists were selected by a panel of judges made up of renowned advocates of craft skills:

• Jay Blades MBE, Co-Chair of Heritage Crafts;
• Kate Hobhouse, Chair of Fortnum and Mason;
• Patricia Lovett MBE, former Chair of Heritage Crafts;
• Simon Sadinsky, Executive Director of The Prince’s Foundation; and
• Johanna Welsh, pargeter and 2022 President’s Award winner.