Farnham Maltings, Bridge Square, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7QR

A celebration of contemporary crafts from leading UK makers and designers.

Exhibitor Application Pack

festival of crafts Saturday 28 & Sunday 29 October 2017

Farnham Maltings, Farnham

festival of crafts is an annual two day craft event held at Farnham Maltings. Now in its 21st year, the festival is well established in the craft calendar and features a curated selection of makers from across the UK. The work shown is across all media, including but not limited to homewares, jewellery, ceramics, stationery, accessories, furniture, lighting, textiles and print. The festival champions great design and the process of making both traditional and modern techniques and skills.

The show offers opportunities to well established craft practitioners as well as first time exhibitors and graduates (special graduate rates available). Please be aware that this is a curated festival and exhibitors are selected by a panel and places are limited. The selection process aims to offer visitors an eclectic mix of contemporary craft from innovative makers. Please take a look at the selection criteria below for more details.

We are a small and professional craft team who curate the craft programme at Farnham Maltings. Our festival programme comprises a quilters fair, unravel… a festival of knitting, thread… a festival of textiles alongside the festival of crafts. Our annual programme attracts an audience of over 7,000 visitors including craft enthusiasts, art students, stylish shoppers, craft experts, and indie bloggers.

The atmosphere of festival of crafts is lively and the perfect opportunity for makers to meet and sell to craft enthusiasts, make sales and take commissions. Alongside the marketplace, festival of crafts hosts a workshop and talk programme and runs a variety of interactive craft activities for visitors to enjoy.

festival of crafts is also the finale to Farnham Craft Month; a month long programme of activities across Farnham celebrating makers and other craft organisation.

About festival of crafts General information

What to expect

About festival of crafts Farnham Maltings is a historic 18th century brewery consisting of beautiful beamed rooms across which the festival takes place. On a day to day basis the building hosts a range of studios for artists and craftspeople together with six resident theatre and dance companies who produce and tour work regionally, nationally and internationally. The Maltings offers a varied programme including theatre, cinema, craft, music, workshops and more.

The location Farnham boasts a wealthy tradition in the crafts and has recently been recognised as England’s first Craft Town. The Maltings is a short walk to the door of the New Ashgate Gallery, home of the Rising Stars touring exhibition and a five minute walk from the Craft Study Centre, home of the National Craft Collection, and UCA Farnham, one of the few universities with a dedicated craft department.

Farnham Maltings is a two minute walk from the town centre where there are plenty of public car parks and Farnham Railway Station is a five minute walk away. Trains run to and from London Waterloo every 30 minutes and the journey from London to Farnham takes under an hour.

festival of crafts wilL run an extensive publicity campaign. It will also be publicised on the Maltings’ and Craft Maltings‘ website, Facebook event page, Instagram and Twitter. It will feature in the Autumn season brochure, which has a circulation of 14,000 and in craft and maltings e-newsletters.

About the venue

We are looking for applications from makers working in a variety of disciplines, including new and traditional craft techniques and producing work with a modern design aesthetic. The marketplace will showcase over 70 designer makers selling products with a lifestyle focus, including (but not limited to) homewares, jewellery, ceramics, stationery, accessories, furniture, lighting, textiles and print.

Each application must be supported by six images of exhibitors’ work to reflect what will be sold.

Applications are not on a first come first served basis. Exhibitors are selected by a panel made up of a number of craft experts. This is to ensure a high standard of exhibitor and to select a showcase featuring a varied range of disciplines.

Exhibition informationWhat we are looking for

Selection criteria The panel refer to the following criteria when selecting exhibitors to festival of crafts.

• How an exhibitors’ products fits with our ethos of festival of crafts; contemporary lifestyle craft with a modern design aesthetic. The work must be designed/ made by the exhibitor.

• How an exhibitor’s work fits in with the range of disciplines and our aim to diversify the crafts available at festival of crafts.

• How the quality of the finished product is in line with the standard of makers at the festival and its showcasing of the best of UK makers and designers.

• How the exhibitor demonstrates an overall cohesiveness and consistency to their work.

• If an application includes more than one range of products, the panel reserves the right to specify that only a particular range is to be sold at the festival.

• Returning exhibitors should include details of new items for sale since participating in past festivals. This is to keep the festival fresh and engaging for the festival audience.

• Applications must include clear photographic representations of exhibitors’ products.

What we are looking forONLINE: Applications should be made via the online form here or from the craft.farnhammaltings.com website.

VIA EMAIL OR POST: We encourage all applications to be made online. However, if you do however require a copy to be sent via email or post please contact gemma.curtis@farnhammaltings.com

There is no shell scheme at Farnham Maltings. We can provide tables and chairs and electricity at no extra charge. We have a small lift for first floor access - if you work is large scale please let us know in advance.

• Square Pitch £180.00 (Graduate Rate £125) (inclusive of VAT) 2 meters x 2 meters

• Oblong Pitch £180.00 (Graduate Rate £125) (inclusive of VAT) 2.5 meters x 1.75 meters

• Double Pitch £250 (Graduate Rate £190) (inclusive of VAT) 4 meters x 2 meters

Please be aware that in order to qualify for the Graduate rate you must have graduated or have set up your creative business within the last 2 years. You will be asked to show evidence of this if you are offered and accept a place as an exhibitor.

How to apply

Stand sizes and prices

Your exhibitor fee includes:

Online: Listing on the craft.farnhammaltings.com festival of craft site, including an image and link to platform of your choosing.

Print: Inclusion in the print catalogue provided to every festival of crafts visitor. The listing includes a description of work, image and website details.

Stand: Table and chair and electricity use as required.

Parking: Free car parking during set up and for the duration of the festival.

Tickets: One pair of complimentary tickets for entry to the festival.

Applications close on Sunday 30 April and applicants will be contacted with regards to the status of their application shortly after this date.

For any queries please contact gemma.curtis@farnhammaltings.com

Farnham Maltings, Bridge Square, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7QR craft.farnhammaltings.com

farnhammaltings.comCharity No: 305034Registered in England No: 954753VAT Registration No: 293 6758 08

Application deadline

Contact us

“The quality of designers was fantastic and everyone had such different work.”

“Excellent range and quality; very professional.”

“Great mix of previous and new exhibitors.”

“Consistently a quality exhibition.”