December 2024
Book Club: Julian Stair in conversation with Glenn Adamson
On 9th December renowned potter Julian Stair discussed a new book about his work Memory, Material, Ceramics, by Ashley Thorpe.
This talk was recorded and is available for Crafts member to watch here
October 2024
Crafts Autumn/Winter 2024 Issue On-Sale Silver and Gold tier members received their print copy of the magazine starting 14 October 2024. This issue offered a delightful mix of features, including a focus on the makers behind showbiz, the challenges of working with wool, and an exploration of the negative connotations of the word ‘hobby’. Find your copy with one of our many stockists worldwide.
Delaine Le Bas at the Whitworth in Manchester and Crafts Autumn/Winter 2024 Issue Launch Party The launch of the Autumn/Winter 2024 issue of Crafts took place at the Whitworth in Manchester, featuring a conversation with Turner Prize nominee Delaine Le Bas, who was interviewed in the magazine. Le Bas, whose work addresses themes of nationhood, land, belonging, and gender across various media, spoke to Crafts members and other guests about her life and artistic practice on Friday, 18 October at 6pm. This event followed the opening of her Turner Prize exhibition at Tate Britain and took place just ahead of the December announcement of the winner. In person, Whitworth in Manchester, Friday, 18 October, 6pm
This talk was recorded and available for members to listen to here.
Meet Crafts in Manchester The Crafts team hosted a stand at the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair in Manchester, where Crafts members enjoyed a 2-for-1 discount on tickets and had the chance to connect with the team. In person: 17-20 October, Victoria Baths, Manchester
Book Club: White Pube in Conversation On 15 October Zarina Muhammad and Gabrielle de la Puente, the art critics behind the blog The White Pube, joined an online discussion of their new book Poor Artists. They addressed why so many pursue careers as professional artists despite growing financial barriers, sharing insights into a contemporary art world often fraught with competition and elitism. The White Pube duo, who have gained an international following since starting their blog in 2015, shared anecdotes from their experiences and discussed Muhammad’s interview with Turner Prize nominee Delaine Le Bas, featured in the current issue of Crafts. Online: 15 October, 6pm
This talk was recorded and is available for Crafts members to watch here
This Country: Caroline Lucas in Conversation with Edmund de Waal Campaigner, writer, and former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas discussed her new book Another England: How to Reclaim Our National Story with artist and writer Edmund de Waal. Their conversation explored themes of migration, culture, and identity, which have been central to de Waal’s projects, such as The Library of Exile. This was the inaugural event in This Country,, a year-long Crafts program exploring English identity and culture through craft. Online: Thursday, 24 October, 6pm
This talk was recorded and is available for Crafts members to watch here
September 2024
Collection Store Grand Opening with Jacqueline Poncelet Attendees were among the first to see inside the Crafts Council's stunning new collection store—a dynamic space where the public could explore and appreciate extraordinary works of craft. A range of makers with pieces in the national collection of craft joined the celebration, including acclaimed artist Jacqueline Poncelet, who guided guests through some of her work, including those featured in her recent retrospective at the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art. Thursday, 5 September, 6-9pm, Crafts Council Gallery, London N1
This event was free for Crafts Gold members
Making It: What Does Craft Need from the New UK Government? Ahead of Labour's first party conference since taking power, a panel convened to discuss the public policies the craft sector needs to flourish and how the Crafts Council could support it. Guests heard from textile artist James Fox, writer and lecturer Charlotte Warne Thomas, founder of jeans brand Blackhorse Lane Ateliers Han Ates, and interdisciplinary artist and scenography maker Grace Lee, who were among the speakers on this panel. The discussion was chaired by Crafts Council’s executive director, Natalie Melton. This was the first in a series of Crafts online talks and articles titled Making It, focused on the future of the craft sector and professional practice. Online: Wednesday 11 September, 6pm
This talk was recorded and is available for Crafts members to watch here