It’s a good day today. At the weekend the government announced that retail could open as soon as June, although there is no such opening date for galleries.
Also, today the Crafts Council launched their new report ‘The Market for Craft’. It’s an exciting report, and I think, a very positive one. It’s the biggest research into the market for craft in a decade. Craft is clearly something people love and enjoy purchasing, as the report puts it “Craft is now essential to our lives. Craft is no longer a peripheral or isolated area of specialist interest.” 73% of us buy hand-made. Like us, Crafts Council sees craft as a route to ethical consumption and sustainable living, and as a tool for health and wellbeing.
Image from Crafts Council
At New Brewery Arts we want to see Craft valued as both a pastime and profession. The report looks at the shape of the sector, at how the craftspeople are able to have a livelihood and to “live by their creativity” or by “being able to live as far as possible by doing what they loved”. Disappointingly less than half the Master Craftspeople or Established Professional Makers earn their living solely through selling their work. Most have what’s called a ‘portfolio career’, meaning they also teach, or supplement their income through non-craft related activity. Even with a mixed portfolio of income most craftspeople earn far less than the national median annual salary of £30,350.
This is where New Brewery Arts fits in. In our last financial year, we paid over £200,000 to craftspeople through sales of their work in our shop, and we paid a further £95,000 to craftspeople and creatives through tutor fees. New Brewery Arts is what the Crafts Council call an ‘intermediary’. We act as a bridge between those who make, and those who consume craft. Our role supporting craftpeople takes many forms; not only are we a platform for creatives to earn a livelihood through selling and teaching, we provide support including studios, advice and opportunities. Our role is also to promote, elevate and advocate for craft. Our shop, gallery and classes are all ways to excite and inspire everyone. We want people to value craft and why it matters to them, we want people to know the story behind each item they own or make and the materials, resources and skill that went into making it.
That’s what makes today a good day – hearing that more people are enjoying craft, either producing or buying it. Today I feel a little bit closer to a day where everybody celebrates the joy and fulfilment craft brings to their lives and community, and that is a good day.