A partnership between MAC Birmingham and Craftspace
Craft Fellows 2018. (Photo: Kate Green)
Consultancy
Birmingham
April – December 2018
I feel a renewed confidence in myself and my goals because of this workshop. I know that if I write it down, break it down into small, manageable steps and then take action I can achieve my goals. Even the big ones that feel scary and daunting.
Danielle Laurent
From April to December 2018 Craftspace supported the programme for Midland’s Arts Centre (MAC) Craft Fellows scheme.
Over nine months, five graduates from Midlands craft degree courses undertook a programme of professional development and skills-building to prepare for their own practice. Each fellow was also commissioned to create new work which resulted in an exhibition at MAC from November 2018 – March 2019.
The scheme included:
* support and guidance in developing their professional practice and business acumen
* training & professional development opportunities
* space and resources to explore and make
* opportunities to present work and receive critical feedback
* professional and business development events
* mentoring and master classes from professional makers
* an Artist’s Pass to access studio facilities at MAC
* a commission of a new piece of work that was developed during the Fellowship and exhibited at MAC at the end of the fellowship period
We have created blog pages to share the fellow’s experiences of each of the sessions, as well as Top Tips from the facilitators who share a wealth of expertise in business and craft.
The Craft Fellows were Stuart Crabbe, Danielle Laurent, Laura Marriott, Amy McCranor and Amarah Simms.
Click on the links to read the fellow’s blog posts and get the top tips from the experts at each session:
Craft Fellows programme
- Thinking Big & Making it Real with Patricia van der Akker – The Design Trust
- Introducing regional and national organisations with Craftspace, Design Nation, UK Young Artists, New Art West Midlands, Unit Twelve, STEAMhouse, Modern Clay, Centrala
- Make Your Creativity pay – Undertaking a creative career with Pete Mosley – The Art of the Work
- Building relationships with public galleries with Jessica Litherland – MAC
- Building relationships with private/commercial galleries with Yvonna Demczynska – Flow Gallery
- Pricing, costs and business plan: How do I finance my creative business? with Gill Thewlis – Creative Industry Finance/Apertéa, Victoria Claire Dawes – studio potter and Caroline Jackson – Talent Development Manager – Crafts Council
- Presenting with Confidence with Steph Vidal-Hall
- An introduction to Intellectual Property & Copyright with Adam Turley – IP Solicitor at McDaniel & Co representing Anti Copying in Design (ACID)
- Preparing to Sell: marketing online and in print, approaching the press with Katie Honnor – Made by Hand online
- Alchemy of Cloth: 62 Group – Textile Masterclass with Hannah Lamb
- Product photography training with Yeshen Venema
- Ctrl/Shift: 62 Group – Textile Masterclass with Richard McVetis and Vanessa Rolf
- Fundraising & application writing workshop with Matt Roberts – Matt Roberts Arts
- Design Challenge at Dual Works Design Studio with Zoe Robertson & Steve Snell
- Wire work day – Jewellery Masterclass with Rita Patel
- Pain Free Project Planning with Ruth Singer
