The Crafts Council innovation strand explores advancements in materials, processes and technologies in craft practice and new models of learning and thinking through making. The programme brings together leading practitioners with specialist professionals from other fields in a series of ongoing elements that showcase innovative thinking, support new practices, and investigate what a future landscape for craft looks like.
Through live events, exhibitions, R&D partner projects, research and advocacy the innovation strand acts as a platform for professionals to share their work, debate common practice and meet future collaborators.
Highlights of the strand include:
Make:Shift, an international two-day conference on the future of making presenting practices across robotics, smart materials, bio design and wearables and addressing global challenges such as wellbeing and environmental sustainability. www.make-shift.org.uk
Parallel Practices, delivered in partnership with the Cultural Institute at King’s College, London, a 3-year pilot demonstrating the mutual benefits of collaboration between professional makers and medical, scientific academics both in their perspective practices and in education.
Innovation through Craft, KPMG commissioned report describing the ways in which collaboration drives innovation and how we can make the most of its economic potential.
About the Crafts Council
Founded in 1971 and incorporated by Royal Charter, the Crafts Council is Britain’s national agency for craft. Through exhibitions, publications, education programmes, research and advocacy, and curating the national Collection of contemporary craft, we champion the UK’s foremost makers and present craft in new ways, challenging perceptions of what craft is and can be. The Crafts Council is a charity. Its work is made possible by the support of trusts and foundations, individual patrons, and corporate sponsors, and through public funding by Arts Council England.
Alma Daskalaki, Innovation Manager is the lead contact for MaDE at the Crafts Council. innovation@craftscouncil.org.uk
