Support for Traditional Crafts
Traditional Crafts make a significant contribution to the identity, culture and economy of the Highlands and Islands. We define traditional and heritage crafts as those that require skilled hand and machine work, use indigenous materials and local knowledge and traditions. Many were learnt through necessity and have evolved over time to reach a high level of sophistication.
Patricia Lovett welcomes delegates to the HCA conference (March 2012)
Emma Bridgewater Factory
Throughout 2012/13 will be developing a dedicated programme for our traditional crafts and supporting the advocacy body, The Heritage Crafts Association to promote their aims and objectives.
You can find more information about the Association’s work by visiting their website: www.heritagecrafts.org.uk
Below are some useful links to pages on their website:
The Heritage Crafts Association’s definition of Heritage Craft
Register as a Friend of the Heritage Crafts Association
Online Heritage Crafts Association Directory
The Heritage Crafts Association Spring Conference took place at the Victoria and Albert Museum on Saturday 24th March 2012. With the theme of ‘Evolving Craft Communities’ Emma Bridgewater and Lida Cardozo Kindersley spoke in the morning and gave an interesting insight into their different craft activities of pottery in Stoke, and letter cutting in Cambridge.
HI-Arts funded two makers to attend the Heritage Craft Association Conference. Our two recipients of Go and See travel bursaries were Angela Macdonald from Lewis and Jan Judge from Orkney, you can read their reports below.
Are you a maker who uses traditional/heritage skills? Is so, we would like you to get in touch with us, feel free to contact us on crafts@hi-arts.co.uk
- Peter Goodfellow Violin Maker
Our HI-Arts and Northings websites have regular features on makers from throughout the Highlands and Islands, click on the links below to read a range of features about traditional craft makers:
Made to Measure Maker 2012 – Jenny Robertson
Jenny Robertson is from the Isle of Eigg and designs and produces fine hand knitted garments.
Made to Measure Maker 2012 – Alexandra James
Alexandra James is from the Isle of Mull and is a willow artist and basket maker. (featured at the end of the page).
Northings Feature – The Woodsman : Mike Ellis
Mandy Haggith catches up with the traditional woodland crafts practised by Mike Ellis.
Northing Feature – Alan Beavitt: Physicist of Fiddles
Mandy Haggith investigates the violin maker’s art on Scoraig.
Peter Goodfellow – Maker of the Month (January 2011)
HI-Arts Craft Development featured violin maker Peter Goodfellow as their Maker of the Month in 2011.
