Craft Matters - report

Date:22/03/2010

CRAFT MATTERS – a report from Janet Haigh on a Regional Craft Research project.

The Craft Council is currently running several new initiatives for makers under the banner Craft Matters. As a textile maker and Chair of the TFSW steering committee, I have recently attended various meetings and conferences
This was the first in a series of national events called Making Value run by the Craft Regional Network. It was set up to provide an opportunity to engage with contemporary craft issues and to network with peers. This event, which comprised a research workshop followed by a panel discussion, was attended by various makers, craft centre directors, university craft -based researchers, lecturers and general craft society members such as TFSW. The regional hub for this research is based at Devon Guild, Bovey Tracey and Erica Steer is the representative
“Making Value is a national research project to explore the value added by craft makers to the UK’s economy and to investigate the social value of makers’ work in education and community settings. It focuses on portfolio craft makers.” 
Which means that it sets out to find out how adept professional makers are at making a living through their various skills and what other means are adopted apart from just making our own work and selling it e.g. teaching, running workshops, etc. also what impact we might be having on our communities. It is investigating what opportunities exist in different regions to help develop skills and contacts for the “home alone” maker to enhance and develop their practice.
We were all asked to introduce ourselves and our belief in craft; statements such as “ craft practice builds confidence”, “hands can make the head clever”, “ the therapeutic value of craft is vital”, “the pure joy of making cannot be underestimated”, “ you learn to think through making”, “craft is open and relevant to everyone”, give some idea of the commitment to making by the people in the room.
We then broke into small groups to discuss the research findings from questions and interviews given by local makers, some of you may have taken part in these on-line enquires. We were asked to explore the value of the crafts to the general public within industry sectors, from film to tourism, as well as a range of educational and community and health care settings.
The groups had to discuss their personal experiences regarding the different aspects of the findings, the different topics were,“ Identity, practice and distinctiveness”, “Portfolio working – creative and commercial development”, “Role and value in education, community and regeneration”, Role and value of craft in other industry sectors” and “Preparation and continuing support for portfolio workers” finding will be correlated in the reports and disseminated at the Crafts Council’s conference in London on 22 June 2010.
We then had presentations and a panel discussion between several speakers, called “Is the Future Digital ?” Helen Carnac, maker and independent curator, Rosy Greenlees, Executive Director of the Crafts Council, Katie Bunnell, Researcher at Plymouth University with Erica Steer.
Helen Carnac related her experiences as a curator of the current touring exhibition “Taking Time” she explained how the project developed through web based conversations with makers and how the outcomes are either inspired and/or conducted through digital systems. Amy Houghton’s work in the exhibited in the gallery and online was discussed and recommended by her. Taking Time: Craft and the Slow Revolution -go to www.craftspace.co.uk
Rosy Greenlees, commented on the different aspects of digital input for making from web sites, on-line exhibitions to rapid prototyping as a making tool- go to www.craftscouncil.org.uk
Katie Bunnell spoke about the digital research programme Autonomic-  go to www.autonomic.org.uk
This ongoing research will be used to inform policy making, enhance strategic planning and support effective programme delivery by educators and agencies supporting the crafts.

Contact Name: Janet Haigh

Location: Bovey Tracey Devon

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