Manu Factum State Prize

Valued at 60,000 euros, the state prize has been awarded by North Rhine-Westphalia for over 50 years. Craftspeople who live and work in NRW are eligible to compete for the prize, which is awarded every two years.

Ulrike Becker, Side table, state prize in the category furniture

Cabinetmaker and project designer Ulrike Becker from Münster received the prize in the “furniture” category for her side table of powder-coated steel with a removable tray. Textile designer Barbara Hattrup from Salzkotten won the prize in the “sculpture” category for a wall installation made of fiber tiles with inner bark from the paper mulberry tree. Alessa Joosten from Düsseldorf, who is studying jewelry design, won the prize with a graphically sculptural wooden chain: her use of a renewable raw material harmonizes with the concept of sustainable design. Konrad Koppold, a cabinetmaker and interior designer from Leverkusen, convinced the jurors to win the prize in the “home living” category for his asymmetrical lathe-turned oak containers. Conceptual artist Ira Marom from Cologne received the state prize in the new category of “media”: his work depicts portraits of refugees printed in sand and soil.

Konrad Koppold, Lathe-turned oak containers, winner in the “home living” category

The Manu Factum State Prize focuses on handmade one-of-a-kind items and creative achievement. The competition and the exhibition are jointly organized by the state government and the Arbeitsgemeinschaft des Kunsthandwerks NRW [Crafts Consortium of NRW]. The majority of the 450 candidates submitted items in the categories of “jewelry” and “sculpture.” Uwe Müller-Biebel from the Handwerkskammer Düsseldorf [Düsseldorf Chamber of Crafts] happily says: “We received considerably more submissions than in 2015 and we’re proud that we can exhibit 135 items this year.” All 135 pieces are on display at the Museum of Art and Cultural History (MKK) in Dortmund. Visitors can look forward to plenty of creative ideas and impressive craftsmanship.