The event will see the participation of new and established makers and also plays host to the best emerging talent from across the north. Visitors, including retailers, curators, interior designers, collectors, media and the general public, will have the opportunity to see and buy beautiful handmade pieces and talk to the designers about their work and influences.
For the first time, the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair will be hosting a series of talks by prominent figures from the contemporary craft world. Speakers already confirmed include: embroiderer Louise Gardiner, who has been commissioned to produce work for the Project Space at COLLECT this year, and Ceramicist Sharon Blakey who will be talking about her research project and collection inspired by the Mary Greg Collection of Handicrafts of Bygone Times based at Manchester Art Gallery.
This year’s exhibitors have been carefully selected by an esteemed panel of judges including Andrea Nixon, Executive Director of Tate Liverpool; Professor David Sanderson, Professor of Ceramic Design at Staffordshire University; Hannah Obee, Special Collections Curator at Chatsworth House; Moira Stephenson, collector and former Director of Manchester Art Gallery; and Ellie Tennant, freelance interiors journalist.
Returning to the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair, this year would be the Great Northern Graduates stand where some of the UK’s top creative graduates, from colleges and universities across the country, will showcase their work. The emerging designers, selected by curator Suzy Jones, will exhibit their collections in furniture, lighting, ceramics, jewellery and metal.
The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair promotes high quality, cutting edge contemporary craft, showcasing the latest work in textiles, wood & furniture, lighting, mixed media, metal, jewellery, glass, ceramics, basketry and paper.
