Craftspace is part of the Arts Council England’s National Portfolio of funded organisations, once again, for 2018-2022.
Current Focus
Craftspace aims to initiate programmes of work which stimulate artistic excellence, critical thinking, curiosity and understanding of contemporary crafts in the widest social and cultural contexts.
Between 2018 and 2022 the focus of our work will investigate:
Craft in an expanded field
This means investigating crafts practice through a range of interdisciplinary media and mediums. We are continuing to work on a series of projects called Craftspace Curates to commission new interdisciplinary collaborations which present craft, makers and stories of making in unusual ways.
We are working with different partners to commission new productions. Currently we are developing partners to create a touring version of the play Yarning by Trevor Pitt, originally co-produced by Trevor Pitt, Craftspace and MAC.
Craft and the Commons
Our major touring exhibition, We Are Commoners, launches at Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham in September 2020. Investigating how craft, making and materials can highlight the importance of ‘the commons’ and acts of commoning in creating thriving communities.
Developing artistic talent from the Midlands and beyond
In:Site Festival takes place annually outdoors in in Cathedral Square in Colmore Business District. It provides an opportunity for selected new arts graduates from around the country to create bespoke, site-specific artworks.
Making Together
Our ongoing work with families focuses the value of making together in early years.
Social Justice
Our ongoing Making For Change project is a social action programme for young people 16-25. Using Craftivism (craft + activism) as a focus, it facilitates young people to develop a sense of agency and motivation to campaign for change and become more active in their communities.
Social Enterprise
Shelanu Women’s Craft Collective will continue developing as a social enterprise, transitioning migrant and refugee women from participants to creative producers diversifying the marketplace. We will widen our participatory programme in partnership with key voluntary sector groups across Birmingham targeting economically inactive and socially isolated women through the Women’s Maker Movement project.
Consultancy and Research
Craftspace undertakes a limited amount of consultancy work that has a good fit with its core values and programme. Currently we are working with British Council’s global Crafting Futures programme to research and deliver UK craft study tours.
We continue to work with a range of Higher Education partners developing research projects and networks that link with themes of community development, health and well-being and creative asset mapping.
Find out more about our approach and how we work in partnership here.
