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Employment Within Crafts: The Facts
Listed under: One Voice
Published: Monday, July 26, 2010
The Craft Council's recent Assemble Conference in London saw a number of the industry's top experts, including representatives from leading schools, higher education outlets and craft businesses, express their concerns about the number of creative courses being scrapped over the past year.
Speaking at the eagerly-anticipated event, Simon Fraser, course director of MA Design: Ceramics, Furniture or Jewellery at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, highlighted the importance of encouraging younger people to pursue careers within the industry, saying, “There is a deafening silence around the number of craft courses being scrapped across the UK and it is up to us, as a sector, to ensure the youth of today and their parents are fully aware of the wide and diverse range of career paths currently available for those wishing to pursue jobs in the arts.”
Accounting for approximately 13% of those working in creative fields, the craft sector currently contributes £3 billion to the UK economy each year alone and has continued to grow over the past two years, despite the economic climate.
A report carried out by the Council this year, Crafting Futures, reveals that there are now more career options available for those wanting to work in art-related industries than ever, showing that as many as nine out of 10 graduates who have done so are now in paid work, with three out of five working in jobs directly related to their area of choice.
The study also reveals that unemployment amongst qualified craft students is low – amounting to just three percent of those questioned overall.
Launching their own businesses was a popular choice for many, seeing 26% pursue that path during the earlier years of their careers and 19% currently still doing so. Teaching was also a common job path, with 41% of graduates working in education following their studies and 25% continuing to do so till this day.
How have craft course closures affected your business? Email your thoughts to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Accounting for approximately 13% of those working in creative fields, the craft sector currently contributes £3 billion to the UK economy each year alone and has continued to grow over the past two years, despite the economic climate.
A report carried out by the Council this year, Crafting Futures, reveals that there are now more career options available for those wanting to work in art-related industries than ever, showing that as many as nine out of 10 graduates who have done so are now in paid work, with three out of five working in jobs directly related to their area of choice.
The study also reveals that unemployment amongst qualified craft students is low – amounting to just three percent of those questioned overall.
Launching their own businesses was a popular choice for many, seeing 26% pursue that path during the earlier years of their careers and 19% currently still doing so. Teaching was also a common job path, with 41% of graduates working in education following their studies and 25% continuing to do so till this day.
How have craft course closures affected your business? Email your thoughts to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
