Following the first phase of the Arts and Humanities Research Council-funded Craft Expertise project, culminating in the Making Changes in Craft report, phase two is now well underway.
While phase one focused mainly on the professional craft sector and the experiences of minoritised makers, the focus of phase two is on craft social enterprises in the UK and Australia. For this I am producing a series of case studies of craft social enterprises in these locations, focusing on how they have adapted during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how they bring people together and engage their communities. By doing an in-depth exploration of craft social enterprises, I want to see if there are any lessons to learn for the wider craft sector, both within the UK and comparatively between the UK and Australia. I plan to visit Australia later this year.
From the interviews and visits I have done so far in the UK, the main themes emerging include:
- An emphasis on mental health (i.e. the importance of craft for the mental health and wellbeing of participants)
- How the COVID-19 pandemic and shift to online provision presented logistical and financial challenges, but also made sessions more accessible
- The idea of social prescribing to make the case for craft as important for mental health and wellbeing, and a way for organisations to potentially be sustainable
Phase two will also involve producing an audio documentary about the journey of this project and the challenges and themes which have emerged from the research. I am also writing a book bringing together all of the research and which will be published by Routledge in 2023/2024. Finally, we are hoping to host an event this December for all makers and organisations involved in the Craft Expertise project from the start. To stay updated with project visit the Craft Expertise website and follow us on Instagram.