What

What is CraftNet?

An independent network that promotes leadership and strategic development for contemporary craft

Aspirations
Initiating UK wide, national and international dialogue and joint working
Identifying emerging trends, needs and opportunities to influence change
Generating collective bids for strategic activity
Facilitating regional networking events in collaboration with the Crafts Council and other partners
Advocating and campaigning for contemporary crafts from informed regional and national
perspectives
Making collective responses to policy and research consultations
Maintaining an active connection between a core group of leaders through CraftNet meetings

Who?
Core group members are individuals who represent a range of contemporary craft interests from guilds
and studio groups to commercial interests, galleries, craft development agencies, independent
curators/producers and creative practitioners/makers. Members also represent and are active across all
regions of England. Membership is voluntary and core group members join as individuals rather than as
representatives of specific organisations. There is capacity for 18 members (2 per region).

Background
CraftNet emerged from a development project funded by Arts Council Englands Cultural Leadership
Programme. A collective bid from the newly formed network resulted in a second development
programme for established and emerging leaders including colleagues in Ireland, Wales and
Scotland. Over 40 people have benefitted from both programmes.
In partnership with and financial support from the Crafts Council, CraftNet has co-organised a series
of regional networking events annually, exploring various pertinent topics with presentations from key
speakers.

Future priorities for the next 3 years

Leadership development - A third development/training programme with potential to include UK
colleagues if partnerships can be proposed with funding bodies/development agencies in Northern
Ireland, Ireland, Wales, Scotland and possibly an additional connection with Europe.
Advocacy and communication A biennial craft leadership summit developed with an HE partner.
Continued partnership with the Crafts Council around regional networking events (x 4 per year). Web
presence, sharing intelligence about the sector. A sub-group of CraftNet formed a craft cluster in
partnership with the Crafts Council to research audiences through the Audience Agency.
Sustainability and fund raising Resources to sustain the network. Developing key relationships with
other organisations/agencies/bodies to provide leverage and critical mass for joint fundraising
bids/collective strategic bids. The first action will be a fundraising bid for a leadership development
programme with a leadership summit as a possible outcome.

Secretariat: This role is usually shared between two core members.