16 May opening discussion: In a conversation at Crafts Council Gallery, speakers Gus Casely-Hayford, director of V&A East, artist Corbin Shaw, and designer-researcher Shai Akram considered the often thorny relationship between craft and heritage in England what can be gained if we start to resolve this – a recording of this conversation will soon be published online. You can look forward to this page being updated with future recordings as this programme develops.
What next?
Over the summer of 2024, we will engage in a series of preliminary, collaborative activities that will help us decide what questions we need to address. We want to hear from as many people as possible in deciding what questions to address as part of This Country. This is your chance to tell us what you think, hear from others and help us understand what matters to makers. Stay tuned for details
Then, from October this year, the programme will unfold over four seasons – each with a theme. Activities will take place in different parts of the country and online. Keep this page bookmarked and follow us on social media for updates as our plans develop.
From October
Over 12 months, we will explore the various facets of Englishness through four themes – through events taking place across the country, as well as digital content.
PART 1: ‘PEOPLE’ (Oct-Dec)
We challenge stereotypes surrounding Englishness and delve into the interplay between tradition and modernity. From the tastes and eccentricities that shape our interiors and buying choices, to societal norms surrounding class, politeness and humour – we unravel and reconstruct the complexities of English identity through craft.
PART 2: ‘SEA’ (Jan-March)
We navigate England's maritime history and its global connections, confronting its colonial legacies, the confluences of cultures that have shaped its craft and how the nation is perceived from the outside. Through craft, we redefine ‘brand England’ and envision a decolonised and just future where our vision of craft is purposeful and inclusive.
PART 3: ‘FOREST’ (April-June)
The green and pleasant land goes under the microscope, as we delve into the materials and ecologies we have long relied on and how they are changing in the climate emergency. From efforts to revive threatened resources, to the global origins of our botanical heritage, to the limits of growth – both environmental and economic – we dig into the profound, and changing, relationship between England and its verdant landscapes.
PART 4: ‘TOWN’ (July-Sept)
What is the role of craft in an urban future? Our final season explores making in the metropolis, the creative businesses engaged in placemaking, and the intersection between technology with tradition. From small-scale manufacturing to handmade architecture, we envision a future where craft thrives in our towns and cities, enriching communities and infusing daily life with cultural depth.