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, as well within the British Isles. 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.