A brand-new exhibition celebrating exceptional craft is coming to London in 2024 and has a recognisable face at the helm.

 

Jay Blades presents Craftworks is set to attract craft sector professionals, architects, designers, artists, brands, retailers and will be curated by television presenter and furniture restorer, Jay Blades MBE, known for the Repair Shop, Jay Blades Home Fix, and for co-presenting Jay and Dom’s Home Fix.

 

Set to take place during London Craft Week 2024, this three-day free to attend live event will host the very best of arts, crafts, and design from all corners of the craft sector and will celebrate niche craftmanship that is in danger of being lost to time.

 

In celebration of the launch of the exhibition, an esteemed panel of industry leaders held a Q&A and discussion compared by Piers Roberts at Shoreditch Town Hall, the location of Jay Blades presents Craftworks. The panel, made up of Deborah Pocock, CEO of QEST; Daniel Carpenter, Executive Director of Heritage Crafts; Annie Warburton, Chief Executive of Cockpit; Debika Ray, Head of Editorial at Crafts Council and Editor of Crafts magazine; Jo Sealy, Founder of The Black Artisans, and face of the exhibition, Jay Blades MBE.

 

As well as discussing the launch of the exhibition, the panel discussed the importance of British craftsmanship, with the exhibition hoping to generate business for crafts people whose skills are little known, due to being lost to mass manufacturing; as well as revitalise and attract the next generation of crafts people to future proof some of the world’s oldest crafts practices.

 

TV presenter, Jay Blades MBE, said: “I’m excited to bring Craftworks to life here in London, as it will be the first of its kind. This event will not only reflect my principles of great design, education, and restoration, but most importantly will ensure the future proofing of the craft sector”.

 

Held in the beautiful and iconic Shoreditch Town Hall, Craftworks will house four very distinct exhibition areas ensuring that the event is accessible for all crafts people. The venue is perfect for presenting the very best craftspeople and designer makers from across the UK and overseas. The exhibition hopes to attract sponsors of the various areas and is looking for businesses that share in the vision of championing great British craftmanship and design and sustainability.

 

Nicole Chrysostomou, Event Organiser, said: “The UK has long been at the forefront of exceptional craftmanship which is why we want to create an exhibition that celebrates the very best of British craft and design. Our goal is to bring these great designers, craftsmen, architects and more under one roof in support of the sector. We look forward to welcoming craftspeople and brands from across the country”.

 

Jay Blades presents Craftworks has already attracted endorsement and support from some of the country’s premier craft organisations and charities, such as QEST (Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust), an art and craft educational trust created to sustain traditional British craftmanship; Cockpit, the London centre for excellence in craft; and Heritage Crafts, the national charity for traditional heritage crafts which works in partnership with the Government. 

 

Jay Blades presents Craftworks is open for exhibitor and sponsorship enquiries, for more information visit: www.craftworks.show

 

-ENDS

For further information, interviews or image requests please contact: media@dotanddel.co.uk | T: 0141 354 1661

 

NOTES TO EDITORS

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About The Assembly Events

Extraordinary People, Exceptional Events!

We are event organisers looking to challenge the equilibrium and break new ground. Our portfolio speaks for itself, consisting of unique consumer conferences and conventions, cutting-edge trade shows and immersive exhibitions and awards. We are a collective with a genuine drive to create impactful relationships with partners and audiences alike. Event management sits at our core; we have created, launched, commercialised and delivered hundreds of incredible events worldwide, with professionalism, creativity and a collaborative mindset. Collaboration is crucial. We can also provide help and support to existing events that need a fresh pair of eyes to give them life. Our team are experts in developing solutions, supporting brands to improve their position and to make their events exceptional.

www.theassemblyevents.com

 

About QEST

QEST, the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust, is a national grant-giving charity founded in 1990 by the Royal Warrant Holders Association, with a core mission to support the training and education of talented and aspiring makers, helping to sustain and evolve vital skills in traditional and contemporary craft. Over the past 33 years QEST has awarded £5.5 million to some 700 makers working across the UK in over 130 craft skills, ranging from sculpting, woodworking, bookbinding, stonemasonry, textiles, ceramics, leather working, printmaking, silversmithing and many more. QEST strongly believes that opportunities to develop making skills and careers in craft should be open to all, regardless of background or circumstance, and as part of its Crafting Futures: Pathways to Excellence strategy, is developing a range of programmes to inspire and engage the next generation of professional makers. The first step in November 2022, was to announce a partnership with the National Saturday Club, whereby over the course of the next few years, at least 10 Craft&Making Clubs will be established across the UK to introduce 13-16 year olds – many from disadvantaged backgrounds and under-represented communities - to personal and career development opportunities with a focus on craft, making, and creativity.

www.qest.org.uk

 

About Cockpit

Cockpit is London’s centre for excellence in craft, bridging the gap between talent and opportunity. An award-winning social enterprise, Cockpit is home to 166 independent creative businesses, and some of the most exciting makers in the world. Spanning every kind of craft, our makers are united by their extraordinary skill and imagination. A voice for making in all its forms, Cockpit stands for the transformative power of craft to shape a better world.

www.cockpitstudios.org

 

About Heritage Crafts

Heritage Crafts is the national charity for traditional heritage crafts. Working in partnership with Government and key agencies, it provides a focus for craftspeople, groups, societies, and guilds, as well as individuals who care about the loss 3 of traditional crafts skills and works towards a healthy and sustainable framework for the future. Its aim is to support and promote heritage crafts as a fundamental part of our living heritage. Heritage Crafts is a UNESCO-accredited NGO for Intangible Cultural Heritage, and we advocate for UK ratification of the 2003 UNESCO Convention of the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which only 12 of the 193 member states of UNESCO have failed to ratify.

www.heritagecrafts.org.uk

 

About The Black Artisans

The Black Artisans showcases and celebrates established UK based Black Artisans through a travelling photography exhibition. This body of work seeks to make visible Black Artisans and to enlighten, educate and inspire people and in particular young people to explore these areas as a potential field of work or as a leisure interest, perhaps not previously considered or made available. The Black Artisans is a project by social documentary photographer Jo Sealy. "We are delighted that The Black Artisans has been invited to be part of Craftworks, which provides a great opportunity to raise the profile of the artisans in our network." www.theblackartisans.org

 

About Crafts Council