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Craftspeople Come Together to Avert Loss of Skills
Listed under: News
Published: Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Representatives from some of the country's top craft organisations, including the British Artist Blacksmiths' Association and the Association of Master Upholsterers, met at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) earlier this month to discuss what they believe has become a traditional skills crisis.
The prestigious event, hosted by the newly-formed Heritage Crafts Association (HCA), was attended by a number of well-known personalities, including Phil Harding, presenter of the Channel 4 archaeology programme Time Team, who is currently considered one of the best flintknappers in the country.
Highlights of the gathering included demonstrations from a range of highly regarded craftspeople, such as some of the country's top quilters, basketmakers, calligraphers and hand engravers. Mentors from the popular BBC2 programme, Mastercrafts, were also present.
The event was part of the HCA's ongoing commitment to having traditional craft skills recognised as part of the UK's national heritage – something it hopes will safeguard the future of the industry and ensure these art forms are passed on to the next generation.
Despite the publication of a report in 2004 recommending the establishment of a 'vernacular Crafts Council' in the UK, little was done to instigate this, and the UK was one of the country's not to sign the UNESCO Convention in 2003, recognising crafts as a key part of its heritage.
Commenting on the importance of promoting these skills across the UK, Mr Harding, says, “Thank goodness there are still people who care and are collaborating to save these crafts, which are still very relevant today.”
Robin Wood, chair of the HCA adds, “The V&A is home to some of the finest craftwork in the world, but the skills that produced much of that are under threat. It was wonderful to see people actually engaged in making things at the museum, and we hope this highlights the plight of some of these endangered skills.”
For more information on the work of the HCA, please visit http://www.heritagecrafts.org.uk
The prestigious event, hosted by the newly-formed Heritage Crafts Association (HCA), was attended by a number of well-known personalities, including Phil Harding, presenter of the Channel 4 archaeology programme Time Team, who is currently considered one of the best flintknappers in the country.
Highlights of the gathering included demonstrations from a range of highly regarded craftspeople, such as some of the country's top quilters, basketmakers, calligraphers and hand engravers. Mentors from the popular BBC2 programme, Mastercrafts, were also present.
The event was part of the HCA's ongoing commitment to having traditional craft skills recognised as part of the UK's national heritage – something it hopes will safeguard the future of the industry and ensure these art forms are passed on to the next generation.
Despite the publication of a report in 2004 recommending the establishment of a 'vernacular Crafts Council' in the UK, little was done to instigate this, and the UK was one of the country's not to sign the UNESCO Convention in 2003, recognising crafts as a key part of its heritage.
Commenting on the importance of promoting these skills across the UK, Mr Harding, says, “Thank goodness there are still people who care and are collaborating to save these crafts, which are still very relevant today.”
Robin Wood, chair of the HCA adds, “The V&A is home to some of the finest craftwork in the world, but the skills that produced much of that are under threat. It was wonderful to see people actually engaged in making things at the museum, and we hope this highlights the plight of some of these endangered skills.”
For more information on the work of the HCA, please visit http://www.heritagecrafts.org.uk
