Craftspace celebrates 40 years with appeal to support future of craft

Midlands-based charity Craftspace is celebrating its 40th anniversary by looking to the future of craft and launching a fundraising appeal to support artists and communities.

The charity's 40th anniversary Crowdfunder aims to raise £10,000, with match-funding available for the first £2,500 raised.

Craftspace says donations could help pay artists for their time, cover materials and participants' travel costs, or fund workshops.

Deirdre Figueiredo MBE, director of Craftspace, said: “As we celebrate our 40th anniversary, we want many more people to express themselves through the power of crafts.

“Sustaining Craftspace will secure access to craft for all. As one of the only dedicated and specialist charities in the region, we provide a crucial role in bringing artists and communities together to make, discover and connect through craft.”

Over the past 40 years, Craftspace says it has supported more than 250,000 people to get making, commissioned work from 2,500 artists and curated more than 500 exhibitions, which have been viewed by more than two million people.

People who donate to the Crowdfunder can also choose a craft-themed reward, including one of Craftspace's Workshop in a Box kits.

The kits have been developed by professional artists and include Off-Loom Weaving, Collage, Mark Making and Stitch and Paper Craft.

Deirdre said the kits were designed to “spark new ideas” and provide people with an opportunity to explore different materials and techniques.

“One of the Workshop in a Box craft kits has been developed by Sarah May Johnson, a textile artist who exhibited in Craftspace's recent Made in the Middle exhibition.

“Developed by professional artists, they provide a creative space for making that can be so positive; helping to understand materials, learn new skills and create a tangible, tactile object. These impacts can last a lifetime.”

Sarah May Johnson said her own interest in weaving began at primary school when she was about five or six years old.

She recalled making a woven scene featuring a cactus in the desert beneath a bright blue sky on a simple cardboard loom.

Her teacher, Mr Wood, later pointed out that the assignment had actually been to weave coloured stripes inspired by a place.

Sarah May said: “It seems that even at a young age, I was already pushing the boundaries of what you can, or should, be making on a loom.

“Little did I know then that years later I would still be experimenting on the loom as a woven textile artist, and Mr Wood will be happy to know I've come around to liking stripes!”

The fundraising campaign runs until October 25.

Donations to Craftspace's 40th anniversary Crowdfunder can be made via the charity's fundraising page: crowdfunder.co.uk/p/access-to-craft

More information about Craftspace is available at craftspace.co.uk