Maker Behind the Maker Award

The Hands that realize artistic dreams

The Maker Behind the Maker Award is an initiative of Kunstinstituut Melly in collaboration with the Mondriaan Fund. It recognizes a person or group working in the Netherlands who, through their impeccable craftsmanship and collaborative support, has helped a visual artist realize their work to its fullest potential.

Visual artists with more than five years of experience creating artworks and carrying out projects were invited through an open call to nominate one or more individuals for this award.

The Maker Behind the Maker Award specifically honors the skilled craftspeople, fabricators, and producers whose work brings artistic visions to life. From constructing large-scale installations to designing custom instruments and experimenting with materials, these professionals often operate behind the scenes, yet their expertise and innovation are essential to contemporary art. The award carries a prize of €25,000, made possible through the generous support of the Mondriaan Fund and Stichting Stokroos.

The MELLYs Awards

This year, as part of The MELLYs Awards, the Maker Behind the Maker Award will be presented with a prize of €25,000, in recognition of the essential makers who, through their craftsmanship and collaborative support, bring artistic visions to life and help artists realize their work to its fullest potential.

Meet the Jury

The jury for the Maker Behind the Maker Award combines curatorial insight, artistic innovation, and hands-on technical expertise, ensuring that the award honors the makers whose skills are essential to bringing artistic visions to life.