Lending Craft A Helping Hand

Some of Scotland’s most talented makers will have their work seen by an international audience at London Design Week this autumn, thanks to the support of CraftScotland

- Catherine Coyle

Craft, as you’ve probably noticed, is enjoying something of a resurgence. At galleries and art festivals, studio trails and exhibition launches up and down the UK, the applied arts are in vogue. TV shows such as BBC2’s Great Pottery Throw Down and Channel 4’s Craft It Yourself are celebrating what until very recently was dismissed as little more than a niche hobby. Craft, suddenly, is cool.

Behind the scenes, though, is an army of makers whose dedication to craft owes nothing to its current fashion ability. Scotland has a vibrant scene, a healthy and flourishing community from across the applied arts, with many people working independently, sometimes within collectives and often with the support of organisations such as Craft Scotland. One of the biggest platforms for these artisans is taking place this autumn, when a specially selected group of the country’s finest talent will showcase new work at the London Design Fair (LDF) as part of Scotland: Craft and Design Pavilion 2017.