Talente 2010

Talente 2010:  3rd March – 9th March

Talente, one of the most prestigious showcases in Europe for emerging talent in the areas of design, technology and craft, opens later today in Munich. The annual event for newcomers who are under the age of thirty is itself celebrating the big 30 this year and I have been fortunate enough to be invited over to Munich to participate in the Talente Jury 2010.

The exhibition is held during the International Trade Fair for the Skilled Trades, and this year has attracted 400 applications from 28 countries. The selection process was conducted by another jury panel that looked for experimental approaches to materials and craft techniques. They chose 99 young designers from 24 countries – including Estonia, Australia, the USA, Israel and the UK (but disappointingly not Scotland this year) – and over the next few days I will be getting to know their work in great detail.

My role as jury member doesn’t officially begin until Friday when I will meet with my six colleagues from New Zealand, Germany, The Netherlands, Denmark and Italy to select work from the show that is outstanding. They will then be presented with their award in a ceremony on Saturday evening.

In the meantime I will be ensuring that Scottish craft is still very much on the agenda, whether that’s on the trade centre floor or over a coffee, by meeting with makers, visitors and my fellow panel members to inform them of the work that is going on back home.

Emma Walker
craftscotland CEO