NEW YEAR notices
Tuesday, 05 January 2010
Very warm wishes for a "Happy New Year". Time to set goals and re-assess priorities. The Guild has established some important ties in the last couple of years and this would be a good moment to list some of them and let you know what they are up to this year.
1. While studying the craft industry in Spain I was made aware of how well the British organize themselves and how much more effective independent associations can be than well intentioned but bureaucratic government initiatives. An English weaver married to a Spanish basket maker introduced me to the Heritage Craft Association, chaired by Robin Wood, a wood turner himself, who has got together with heads of various specialized craft associations is actively lobbying for Government to aid apprenticeships in the same way they give financial aid to degrees and career development schemes.
The Heritage Craft Association would like all craftsmen and women to fill out a short questionnaire, please go to their website for further information: http://heritagecraftsassociation.blogspot.com/2009/12/heritage-crafts-association-seeks-input.html
2. Towards the end of the year I was invited to a presentation by the British Crafts Council, they have come up with the seemingly vacuous notion of getting as many people as possible to sign a petition saying you care about Crafts "CRAFT MATTERS". However, as banally obvious as that is to us, perhaps having a significant amount of signatures is what is necessary to lobby on behalf of our industry and so I urge that you do, in fact, sign this silly thing - no pain no gain!
To sign up to the statement 'I'm signing up to Make Craft Count because Craft Matters to me', visit www.craftscouncil.org.uk/craftmatters.
The Art Workers Guild is a Partner of the Cultural Bloomsbury networking group: http://www.culturalbloomsbury.org/breakfasts.html
Interesting exhibition to see: CRAFTIVISM in Bristol: http://www.arnolfini.org.uk/whatson/exhibitions/details/549
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