Supporting Craft in the Highlands and Islands

Community Cultural Network

1st December 2007

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HI~Arts is the Arts Development Agency for the Highlands and Islands

We are contracted by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and funded by the Scottish Arts Council

We have delivered a range of development programmes in different art forms: theatre, music, literature

Our support for the Craft sector has included collaborating on the creation of craftscotland, and providing small awards for Makers

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Scoping Study

• 49 interviews

• 86 survey responses

• 11 telephone interviews with associations

• 2 focus groups Amanda Bryan, Aigas Associates

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• Lack of understanding of the craft sector• Diversity of the sector• Lack of audience awareness• Variable development support for the sector• What is quality?• Lack of cohesion in the sector• The challenges of information dissemination and

communication.

Key Issues

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Makers’ Needs

• Creative and Professional Skills Development

• Low Cost Workshop Space

• Advice and Funds for Business Development

• Reducing Isolation Northlands Glass, Lybster

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Rec. 1: Pilot TrainingProgramme

• tailored for craft makers

• central funding and management

• delivered locally across the Highlands and Islands.

• networking opportunities.

CEO training event

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Rec. 2: Pilot ‘Go See’

• build networks• raise the bar in terms of quality

and professionalism • experience competition form

other areas• consider presentation and

pricing issues• different levels with different

styles of event in Scotland, Harrogate and London attended.

London Craft Fair

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Rec. 3: Craft Development Officer

• cover North and East Highland• manageable geographically • critical mass of craft makers • Shetland, and Skye & Wester Ross have

existing posts • focus on growing the capacity of individual

makers

• establish a more cohesive and confident sector in North and East Highland

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Rec. 4: Administrator

• support the craft development officer

• support the delivery of the Makers Scheme

• Quality Assessment Scheme and the Mentoring Scheme

• Web tasks (see later recommendations)

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Rec. 5: targeted support

• Expanded Makers Awards Scheme

• Quality Assessment scheme which will help target makers’ needs for support

• One-to-one surgeries• Mentoring Scheme for

makers focussing on craft skills rather than business skills

Patricia Shone, recipient of HI~Arts Maker’s Award

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Rec. 6: Quality Assessment

• an independent study addressing the issue of the definition of quality

• a consistent, widely acceptable and transparent quality assessment process

• identify the type of support that makers may require in order to develop

• draw on the Shetland experience Bonhoga Gallery,

Shetland

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Rec. 7: ‘Subscription’ Activity

• endorsement of the artistic product

• curators, reviewers, peer advocacy, retailers, collectors etc.

• improve the image of craft and help with market segmentation.

• must be achieved across the Highlands and Islands.

Scottish Gallery, Edinburgh

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Rec. 8: Socio-economic impact

• identify the number of makers, geographical distribution

• economic value of craft businesses in total and also as a contribution to the micro economies in which they are based,

• economic multipliers, • social benefits including links with formal and

informal education • comparison with other key sectors in these areas • level of return based on public sector funds

invested per annum.

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Rec. 9: Web resources

• Review the craft highland website • avoid duplication of information provided

on craftscotland• Liaise with providers of local craft

information and websites • develop an improved tier structure for

provision of craft information.

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Rec. 10: Communication

• a comprehensive ‘communications’ database of all craft makers in the Highlands and Islands

• improved information distribution networks and accessibility.

• development of information and/or events aimed at retailers/curators

• provision of an information sheet providing a summary of the sector and main contacts to potentially interested parties.

• co-ordinated with craftscotland in order to minimise potential for duplication.

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Integration with Visual Arts

• Support for artists’/makers’ groups and studio trails

• Resources for Continuing Professional Development

• Awareness raising and critical assessment• Networking and coordination, gatherings

and seminars• A comprehensive database of artists and

opportunities• Liaison with key agencies: ‘making the

case’

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Next Steps

• Clarify region-wide and area-based levels of support• Integrate with recommendations for Visual Arts

support: a single Unit?• Integrate with existing posts and agencies• Work with artists/makers’ groups• Prepare funding applications: SAC, HIE,

Cooperative Development Scotland, Trusts and Foundations

Borgh Pottery