• Craft Scotland - support for makers

    Craft Scotland has recently announced a number of measures to support makers, both in the longer term and in relation to the COVID pandemic. These include mentoring programmes, talks by established makers, residency opportunities, and opportunities for showing and selling work. In addition, there are a number of measures to support makers, especially self-employed/freelance makers, during the current situation.

    Full details are to be found on the Craft Scotland website:

    https://mailchi.mp/fa6420037d7b/opportunities-mar21-2677091?e=6495cc18f8

  • Scottish Gallery - February craft exhibition: Two Hemispheres

    Once again, the Scottish Gallery is featuring a Scottish basketmaker. Lise Bech shares the February craft exhibition with the glass artist, Amanda Simmons. The exhibition runs to the end of February. The title of the exhibition references the inspirations for the two artists' work - Lise's work reflecting the undulations of the southern Scottish landscape, and Amanda's the colours and the skies and landscapes observed during several residencies in Australia.  

    A full catalogue, virtual tour of the exhibition and several films showing Amanda at work can be found on the Scottish Gallery website:  

    https://scottish-gallery.co.uk/exhibitions/two-hemispheres

  • Arts Council (UK) funding for professional developmeny

    The Basketmakers'Association has notified its members that the Arts Council is making National Lottery money available for artists and creative practitioners to develop their practice. This includes crafts practitioners; membership of the BA is not a requirement for applying for funding. The information sent round is given below:

    The Arts Council are currently investing £18 million of National Lottery money over the next year (from October 2020 to October 2021) to help artists and creative practitioners wishing to take their practice to the next stage. Craft practitioners are eligible to apply. Areas for development include:

    • research
    • time to create new work
    • travel
    • training
    • developing ideas
    • networking
    • finding mentoring

    The range of grants being offered are £2,000 - £10,000.

    The money will be allocated over 4 rounds and the first round is currently open for applications.

    The deadline for applications for the first round (Round 8 on the Arts Council website) is midday, Thursday, 5 November, 2020.

    Applications for the second round (Round 9 on the Arts Council website) will be accepted in the week commencing 21 December, 2020.

    You can only apply once in each round, but there are no restrictions on applying for funding in each round.

    Please click on the following link for more information:

    https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/DYCP

  • Opportunities from Craft Scotland - COMPASS Emerging Maker scheme 2021 and Craft Scotland week 2020

    Craft Scotland announced a series of events related to the COMPASS Emerging Maker programme for 2021. Their introductory paragraphs are copied below:

    The COMPASS: Emerging Maker Programme focuses on nurturing talent and equipping individual makers with the skills they need to create a successful, sustainable, resilient business and creative practice.

    We are looking for professional, practicing craft makers who have been in business between one and four years and are producing design-led, contemporary one-off pieces or small batch production, to join the COMPASS: Emerging Maker 2021 cohort.

    Further details can be found by following the link, together with notifications of other opportunites, including Craft Scotland Week 2020 which runs from Monday 9th – Sundayt 15th November.

    https://mailchi.mp/4b1fda59ae91/opp-flash-compass-emerging-maker-2021-open?e=6495cc18f8

  • Buying Scottish Baskets

    Now that the COVID-19 restrictions are being eased, galleries and craft outlets are keen to welcome visitors and sell work. If you wish to find something locally made, often from locally sourced  or grown materials, the following list of galleries and outlets have work by Scottish Basketmakers to sell. Not all their stock may be on display, so if you do not see something you like, ask. Also, please check their websites or social media pages to make sure that they will be open when you want to visit.

    Alchemist Gallery, Dingwall, Ross-shire

    https://alchemistgallery.co.uk

     

    The Birch Tree Gallery, Edinburgh

    https://birchtreegallery.co.uk/

     

    The Fold – Craft and Design Store at the Barn, Banchory

    https://www.thebarnarts.co.uk/store-1/fold

     

    The Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh

    https://scottish-gallery.co.uk

     

    Lael Craft Gallery, Ullapool, Wester Ros

    https://www.facebook.com/laelcraftsgallery/s

     

    Mugdock Makkers Art and Craft Gallery, Milngavie

    https://www.mugdockmakkers.co.uk/

     

    Marcassie Farm Pole Barn, Rafford by Forres, Moray

    http://www.naturallyuseful.co.uk/

     

    The Hirsel Gallery, Coldstream, Borders

    https://www.thehirselgallery.co.uk/

     

    National Trust for Scotland - Priorwood Gardens, Melrose, Borders

    https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/priorwood-garden

     

    The Line Gallery, Linlithgow, West Lothian

    http://www.thelineonline.co.uk/

     

    Pillars of Hercules Farm Shop, Falkland, Fife

    http://www.pillars.co.uk/home.html

     

    The Bealach Cafe and Gallery, Applecross, Wester Ross

    https://www.thebealach.co.uk/gallery

     

    The Torridon Centre, Torridon, Wester Ross

    https://www.lochtorridoncentre.co.uk/

     

    The Carron Pottery, Lochcarron, Wester Ross.

    https://www.carronpottery.com/

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