Craft Festival Scotland

The inaugural Craft Festival Scotland is a nationwide event profiling some of Scotland's most exciting and talented practitioners.

A diverse programme of events has been scheduled across Scotland which aim to encourage the public to engage in and understand craft, including the Prototype Symposium and Handmade Nation by Faythe Levine, held in Dundee.

Scotland's craft culture is one of the most innovative in the world and over recent years Dundee has established itself as the global leader in craft research. The Past, Present & Future Craft Practice (PPFCP) project firmly positions Dundee as the key city for craft research and Scotland as a prolific champion for future craft. PPFCP is the largest craft research project ever undertaken in the UK for which Duncan of Jordanstone secured a record-breaking grant by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. Over a five-year period artists, designers and makers have explored craft as a process, product, experience and service. To date the project has involved over 40 practitioners.

This research inspired the team at University of Dundee to create the national Craft Festival Scotland showcasing the many faces of craft across Scotland. Events are scheduled across the country and are aimed at both families and academics alike.

Professor Georgina Follett OBE, Dean of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, Deputy Principal of University of Dundee and Principal Investigator for the PPFCP project, said:

"The ambition of the Past, Present & Future Craft Practice project is unrivalled. With 40 practitioners and five years of investigation into craft as a process, product, experience and service, it is the largest craft research project in the UK. The achievements of this project are now reinforced with the equally ambitious Craft Festival Scotland. The programme of events reflects the quality, creativity and diversity in Scottish craft today whilst highlighting the outstanding potential for the future of craft both in the arts and across industry."

Dr Helen Bennett, Head of Creative Industries, Scottish Arts Council said:

"The craft sector in Scotland is in the midst of rapid change and the PPFCP project has demonstrated impressive vision in imagining and researching the future roles and directions of crafts practice. Scottish Arts Council recognises what has been achieved and has been delighted to support Craft Festival Scotland as a national showcase for the talent and potential of the crafts industry here."

The Craft Festival Scotland is an ambitious series of events to challenge perceptions and profile debates around craft including major exhibitions, film, symposium and a diverse educational outreach programme. The vision is to celebrate and champion craft’s relevance in the present moment. It will initiate a range of national public events, portraying the different faces of craft and the different voices it has as a creative practice. It will focus on reviving the way people see craft and how children and adults alike can become involved in it - creating their own work, attending contemporary exhibitions, listening to artist’s talks, watching a film or animation, becoming a collector or engaging in critical debate.

For the full festival programme, please download the PDF or visit www.dundee.ac.uk/craftfest