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Crafts Council Celebrates 40 Years
Listed under: Top Story
Published: Thursday, December 22, 2011
As 2011 draws to a close, The Crafts Council has announced that its 40th year in existence has been a busy one.
And with 365,000 visitors to its five current exhibitions, 27,000 attending its two craft fairs Origin and COLLECT, and over 7,000 children and young people taking part in its nationwide initiatives, the statistics bear out the council's claim.
In particular, the Crafts Council's emphasis on engaging the younger generation in the creative world through initiatives such as Firing Up and Craft Club has been a resounding success; hundreds of volunteers took part in a training programme to learn how to pass on their skills to the younger generation.
Another highlight of 2011, The Power of Making was a joint exhibition with the V&A and attracted 265,000 visitors in its first three months, while exhibitions in other cities the length and breadth of Britain have also proved popular.
These include, Lost in Lace in Birmingham, Digital Adventures in Contemporary Craft and Breath Taking: Revealing a New Wave of British Glass Blowing, which travelled to 10 venues across the UK, and Block Party: Contemporary craft inspired by the art of the tailor, which launched at London Design Festival in September.
Crafts Council executive director Rosy Greenlees said: “Our 40th anniversary year has been an incredibly positive year for the Crafts Council. It has provided a platform for us to show how exciting and diverse contemporary craft is in the 21st century. The sheer number of people who have engaged in our activities over 2011 is testament to the public desire to know more about making, skills and craft.”
In particular, the Crafts Council's emphasis on engaging the younger generation in the creative world through initiatives such as Firing Up and Craft Club has been a resounding success; hundreds of volunteers took part in a training programme to learn how to pass on their skills to the younger generation.
Another highlight of 2011, The Power of Making was a joint exhibition with the V&A and attracted 265,000 visitors in its first three months, while exhibitions in other cities the length and breadth of Britain have also proved popular.
These include, Lost in Lace in Birmingham, Digital Adventures in Contemporary Craft and Breath Taking: Revealing a New Wave of British Glass Blowing, which travelled to 10 venues across the UK, and Block Party: Contemporary craft inspired by the art of the tailor, which launched at London Design Festival in September.
Crafts Council executive director Rosy Greenlees said: “Our 40th anniversary year has been an incredibly positive year for the Crafts Council. It has provided a platform for us to show how exciting and diverse contemporary craft is in the 21st century. The sheer number of people who have engaged in our activities over 2011 is testament to the public desire to know more about making, skills and craft.”
