Craft Scotland Programme 2021/22 Announcement

As the world continues to respond to the ongoing pandemic, we know that its affects will be felt on Scotland’s craft sector for years to come.  

Thinking about our programme for 2021/22, the Craft Scotland Board and team have adapted our activities to meet the changing needs of the Scottish craft sector.  
 
Our advocacy work continues, with our Director, Irene Kernan, working closely with Creative Scotland and other arts and cultural organisations to pool resources and look at how the cultural community can be supported. We are committed to keeping the sector informed, particularly focusing on the recent effects of Coronavirus (COVID-19), EU Exit (Brexit) and anti-money laundering laws (AMLD5).  
 

Craft Scotland Programme for 2021/22 

Responding to the changing situation, our Programme for 2021/22 features a blend of both physical events and online experiences to support our vibrant community. 

After a successful first year, we are thrilled to bring together another edition of Craft Week Scotland, a nationwide celebration of Scottish contemporary craft that makers, craft collectives and destinations can get involved in for free.  

Having decided not to participate in Collect in 2021, we look forward to returning next year with the cohort of talented makers that were selected for the 2021 show by our panel Susan Holland (Exhibition & Programme Curator, Design & Crafts Council of Ireland), Helen Richie (Curatorial Research Associate, The Fitzwilliam Museum) and Jo Scott (Head of Programmes, Craft Scotland). 

Tanwen’s Making Spaces programme is going from strength to strength with a new research-focused residency developed in partnership with Historic Environment Scotland.  

We continue to adjust our activities to the changing landscape. We are undertaking an evaluation of our COMPASS learning and development programme, and whilst this review period is underway, we have paused intake for the Next Generation and Established Makers programmes.

Additionally, the Summer Show will not be returning this year. Jo, Kerstie and Gwenan in the Programme team continue to research different models for selling and exhibiting opportunities for Scotland-based makers.  

Craft Directory & Our Digital Platforms

Craft Scotland’s popular digital platforms have become even more central to our work during these periods of lockdown. This summer, Veronique, Amy Lou and Mayanne in the Communications & Digital team, together with our web developers, will be focusing on improving the website’s user experience, user forms and signposting, making it easier for you to find what you are looking for.   

To allow this vital work to take place, we will be pausing new applications for makers and places to the Craft Directory from Monday 17 May 2021, and applications will reopen in August 2021. Craft Directory renewals will still take place, if you need any support please email mayanne@craftscotland.org. We will be focusing on increasing accessibility and will return with improved maker forms and profile functionality.  

Get involved with our new Instagram & Twitter campaign, Monday Mentions, launching on Monday 24 May 2021. Simply use the hashtag #MakeMondays and we will reshare an exciting selection of posts every Monday to our followers. 

We want to hear from you 

We understand that this continues to be a worrying time in terms of income, selling opportunities, studio access and mental health. Please email Irene and the team if there are specific challenges you are facing, or types of support that would help during this time: hello@craftscotland.org.  

We will be happy to have a chat, offer advice and sign-post towards additional resources and support.  
 
 

Craft Scotland office 

The team continue to work from home for the foreseeable future. If you would like to get in touch, please contact us via email: hello@craftscotland.org.  

 
Stories from the sector 

We would love to share even more stories from the sector and promote your creative and business practice. If you have some news that you would be interested in sharing, please get in touch: hello@craftscotland.org. 
 

Craft Scotland Programme 2021/22 

Awards 

Jorum Craft Award  

Launched in 2020, the Jorum Craft Award provides funding to assist with development of a maker’s creative practice, including but not limited to research and development of a new piece of work, project or collection.  

We are delighted to announce jewellery designer/maker Isla Cruickshank has been selected as the winner of the second Jorum Craft Award in 2021. Learn more about Isla's practice and previous recipients.  

The Jorum Craft Award is supported by Jorum Studio, in association with Craft Scotland.  

Events & Exhibitions Programme 

Craft Week Scotland 2021 

Monday 25 to Sunday 31 October  

After a successful launch last year, Craft Week Scotland returns in 2021. Highlighting the vibrant Scottish craft community in the run up to Christmas selling season, this celebration will take place in-person and online across Scotland this October. Explore last year's Craft Week Scotland.

Collect 2022 
Late February (dates tbc) 

Craft Scotland returns to Collect, the international art fair for modern craft and design. Expect to see an ambitious showcase of Scotland’s collectable contemporary craft at this new hybrid online/physical show.  

Learning Programme 

Making Spaces  

Connecting communities with contemporary craft. Through Making Spaces, Craft Scotland offers opportunities for people of all ages to engage with contemporary craft and work with makers from across Scotland. The act of making can actively improve quality of life and promote social inclusion, and we work with partners to deliver long-term projects for targeted groups and communities. 

Craft Scotland and Historic Environment Scotland (HES) are offering a new online research residency this summer, providing the participating maker Zephyr Liddell with the opportunity to explore the wealth of material in the archives of HES.  

COMPASS Emerging Maker Programme (1- 4 years in business)  

COMPASS: Emerging Maker Programme takes a practical approach to nurturing a creative business through the early stages of development with webinars, immersive residentials, 1:1 surgeries and mentoring.   

January saw the return of Craft Scotland's COMPASS: Online Workshops. Part of COMPASS: Emerging Maker Programme 2021, this open-access workshop programme took place online via Zoom and comprised of nine sessions spread across three workshop series; Finance & Funding, Brand Storytelling and Maker Journeys in Focus. 

From jewellery designer/makers to textile and ceramic artists, discover the seven makers selected for the 2021 programme. Due to the pandemic, our 2020 programme has also been extended. Meet the participating 2020 makers on our project page.  

Resilience Programme 

The Resilience Programme is a mentoring initiative led by Applied Arts Scotland and Craft Scotland designed to help makers based in Scotland navigate the particularly challenging circumstances resulting from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Resilience Programme is supported by Creative Scotland. 

The Resilience Programme will help makers tap into this collective wisdom to gain new perspectives. In a supportive environment, participants will be able to take time to reflect and develop the resilience required to re-energise, revitalise and sustain their practice. 

The overall aim of the Resilience Programme is to support and encourage a mentoring culture in the Scottish craft community. It has two strands: Peer-to-Peer Co-Mentoring and Mentor/Mentee. Makers can choose which mentoring model best supports their needs and make one application to the strand that fits their needs. 

Craft & Cultural Conversations 

Building on the successful Craft & Cultural Conversations session held as part of Craft Week Scotland 2020, we are back with a new series curated by Dr Catharine Rossi. Placing craft in a cultural context, this talks programme will explore current social themes with a wide range of speakers.  

More details on the full programme and how to book will be announced soon. 

Research Projects 

MAKE | Learn  

MAKE | Learn is a partnership between MAKE and Craft Scotland designed to strengthen Scotland’s craft sector through a review of the provision and development of craft education within Scotland’s primary and secondary schools and beyond. 

A Research Paper, led by Craft Scotland with researcher Rosemary James-Beith, will map out best practice for craft education. The paper will be published in June 2021. 

A Pilot Schools Project, led by MAKE with maker Soizig Carey, intends to focus on the value of craft education within and beyond the school setting and will take place from March to June 2021. 

Craft Hub 

Craft Hub is a collaborative project involving partners from Ireland, UK, Italy, Portugal, Germany, Greece, Norway and Denmark, co-funded by Creative Europe.  

The partners, including Craft Scotland, will work together on Craft Hub over the next three years to illustrate craft’s importance in our shared European cultural heritage, and its continuing relevance in contemporary practice.  

The project goals include investigating and documenting craft skills and processes for a digital depository. Additionally, the project is keen to showcase the different applications of craft in creative practice across Europe, exploring whether this is cultural specificity or the individual motivations of practitioners. 

This exciting programme aims to allow the creation of new work and experimental investigations into process and material, supported by 42 transnational maker residencies, 305 days of outreach work, 1 festival, 7 exhibitions and 2 conferences. 

Curatorial Research Project 

Craft Scotland is collaborating with Dr Stacey Hunter, a Design Curator and Founder of Local Heroes, on a research project to look at the infrastructure of craft, to inform how curatorial development can be supported.  

Recent conversations have highlighted the lack of opportunities for craft curators in Scotland to launch and sustain careers resulting in fewer opportunities for makers to contextualise their practice, show work and reach a wider audience. We will share our findings later this year.  
 

Communications & Digital Support 

We continue to support makers and promote the wider craft sector’s initiatives to a diverse audience through our online activities.  

Our website provides a year-round valuable resource to makers and those interested in craft with our What’s On listings, Maker Opportunities listings and interesting interviews and articles.  

Keep up to date with Craft Scotland and more sector-wide opportunities through the monthly Opportunities newsletter. 

Please send us your news and press releases about recent launches, awards and collaborations to hello@craftscotland.org.