Research

The Cockpit Effect Report 2018 considers some of the major issues faced by craft businesses today and illustrates how the different components of the Cockpit Business Incubator model is designed to help these businesses address those challenges. The report also highlights the value that their partners bring in supporting targeted interventions alongside the general incubator offer, not only for the benefit of individual businesses but potentially the wider sector over the longer term.

The Crafts Council's report describes the demographic characteristics of people working in craft occupations. The Crafts Council is keen to ensure that accurate data, supported by an analysis of the sector’s characteristics, are available both to makers and policy-makers who wish to understand craft. The Crafts Council has been working closely with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to improve official data on the craft sector.

In May 2017, the Heritage Crafts Association (HCA) published The Radcliffe Red List of Endangered Crafts, the first research of its kind in the UK. This research has enabled the HCA to shine a light on this important aspect of the UK’s collective intangible heritage that has, until now, been languishing in the dark. 

Studying Craft 2016 is the third in the Crafts Council research series, Studying Craft: trends in craft education and training, first published in 2014. The findings provide a comprehensive review of contemporary craft education in England, to enable policy makers, programme designers, educators and makers to understand the risks facing the long-term future of craft education and training. 

The Naked Craft Network (NCN) is a collaboration between researchers in Scotland and Canada, two countries where craft plays a key role in the cultural and creative industries.

The Network aims to develop a greater understanding of how craft practices have evolved, strengthening connections between creativity, place, landscape and identity, and providing communities with important financial frameworks.

The Catalyst Craft Consortium – comprising of Bluecoat Display Centre, Liverpool; Craftspace, Birmingham; Devon Guild, Bovey Tracey, Devon; Manchester Craft & Design Centre; and Smiths Row, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk – has been working to develop skills and evidence to attract philanthropy and investment, and explore new areas of fundraising. The consortium commissioned this report to investigate the challenges and opportunities in the business models of contemporary craft development organisations. The report is based on financial data and is written by Sarah Thelwall. The consortium was funded by Arts Council England’s ‘Catalyst 3: building fundraising capacity’ scheme (2013-15).

Collective Futures: Cultivating Creative Collectives was a one-year Creative Scotland funded project focussed on the development of creative entrepreneurial talent. The project sought to share knowledge and create practical guidance for collective working to help individual designer-makers enhance their own professional development and ensure continued success in their own region and across geographic boundaries. In so doing, the project seeks to support the creative economy. Published by Collective Futures team. 

The Craft Economy gives the fullest picture to date of the value and scale of craft’s contribution to the UK economy. Published by the Crafts Council.

The number of online craft marketplaces has proliferated in recent years, fuelled in part by the growing popularity of making and selling handmade goods. Yet despite their growth, there is still much that we do not know about the people using them and the impact they have had on their lives. Published by the RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce).  

Scotland accounts for almost 15% of the UK’s total craft businesses (3,350 from a UK total of 23,000), working predominantly in jewellery, textiles and ceramics. Craft in an Age of Change examines the place of contemporary craft at the beginning of the 21st century. This survey of over 2,000 makers, retailers, educators, writers and curators is the first of its kind to be conducted simultaneously in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Published by the Crafts Council. 

Weave Consult was commissioned by Shetland Islands Council to undertake a review of the Shetland textile sector. The overall aim of the review is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the barriers to industry growth, and suggest practical ways in which the industry, stakeholders and public sector can work together to develop the Shetland textile sector in the future. 

PHT Consultants were commissioned by Craft Scotland in November 2010 to undertake research on the
market for consuming and buying craft in Scotland. There has been much work already undertaken to
investigate the characteristics of the craft market, and on this basis the outputs of this report have
sought to build on various research surveys and report documents already undertaken together with
additional new research; to explore the potential for developing new audiences for contemporary craft,
and strengthen understanding of the existing craft‐buying audience.

Research has shown significant shifts in consumer demand, towards value-centred products, services and experiences which meet emotional – as well as functional – needs. As markets evolve in response to the recession and a changing economy, there is a need to understand how these values – and their associated behaviours – may shift and settle into new patterns of consumption relevant to contemporary craft. Consuming Craft profiles the contemporary craft market in a changing economy. Published by the Crafts Council. 

The Craft Blueprint addresses the way skills are demanded, developed and delivered for the craft workforce across the UK. Published by Creative & Cultural Skills.

Future Focus is the outcome of intensive research and consultation by The Audience Business, Glasgow Grows Audience and Hi-Arts for the Scottish Arts Council from 2008-09 to develop an evidence base for strategic decision making in Crafts Audience Development in Scotland. The report includes a draft action plan with recommendations for future activities and initiatives across the sector. The Scottish Arts Council has recently awarded £48,535 to craftscotland Ltd to implement some key strands of activity. Published by the Scottish Arts Council. 

The Scottish Arts Council commissioned this two-phased project to gain a further understanding of the motivations and attitudes of the audience for crafts in Scotland. The study aimed to better understand the current and potential audiences for crafts as well as the relationship between craft attendees and craft participants. 

Research produced for the Scottish Arts Council to assist in developing a better understanding of the motivations for purchasing contemporary applied arts and of the influences that impact upon the purchase decision.