Following the launch of the Making Changes in Craft report in June 2021, which marked the end of the first phase of Craft Expertise, we are now moving into the second phase of the project. In this second phase, the focus will be on the work of craft social enterprises and community groups around the UK and in Australia. Australia was chosen as the second research site because like the UK it also has a rich craft heritage, but the professionalised sector is also “marked by its whiteness” according to Susan Luckman and Jane Andrew.
While the first phase of Craft Expertise focused on inequalities and the experiences of ethnically diverse makers in professional craft, the research in the second phase will involve exploring alternative pathways into craft. I will look at how organisations work to foster inclusive spaces to make and bring people together, as well as how they have adapted to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In this second phase, we will also track the recommendations made in the Making Changes in Craft report. I will work with the Crafts Council to action these recommendations, and try to assess their implementation across the sector.
The second phase of the project will include the following activities:
- Interviews and observation with craft social enterprises and craft community groups in the UK and Australia
- An audio documentary on craft and inclusivity in the age of COVID-19
- A toolkit for craft organisations, based on this second phase research
- A sharing event at the new STEAMhouse facility in Birmingham in 2022/2023
- Academic outputs including a book and a book chapter/journal article
If you or your organisation would like to get involved with the project, please feel free to contact me at Karen.patel@bcu.ac.uk.
For more information about the project, visit the Craft Expertise website.