Now in its fourth year, Craft Scotland’s flagship learning and development initiative COMPASS: Emerging Maker Programme focuses on nurturing talent. The programme equips individual makers with the skills they need to create a successful, sustainable, resilient business and creative practice. From ceramic artists to jewellery designer/makers and leatherworking, discover the eight makers taking part in this year’s programme.

COMPASS: Emerging Makers Programme has been designed to provide emerging makers with the building blocks to develop their craft business. The programme started in January 2022 with a series of online workshops running until May 2022. Delivered by knowledgeable workshop leaders who understand the day to day of being a maker, participants will be guided through the fundamentals of running a craft business, including finance, marketing, branding, and navigating the craft sector today. Explore this year's programme and meet the speakers taking part. 

The programme will also include a five-day immersive residential held at the renowned arts centre Hospitalfield in Arbroath. Participants will work through case studies, engage in peer-to-peer critiques, and explore their personal, professional and creative values. This element of the programme is an opportunity to address each participant’s unique needs and requirements.   

The programme takes a practical approach to nurturing a creative business through the early stages of development. Following the residential, participants will be paired with a mentor suited to their needs. There will also be access to one-to-one advice through dedicated individual surgeries.   

COMPASS: Dedicated Places

Craft Scotland knows that specific groups of makers are systematically under-supported in the craft sector and for 2022 Craft Scotland created dedicated places for makers on this programme with lived experience of being Black, Asian, Mixed Heritage and/or a Person of Colour, refugee, D/deaf, disabled and/or working class.

COMPASS is Scotland’s route to a flourishing craft sector.  

Craft Scotland’s dynamic learning and development programme, COMPASS, delivers tailored support for the craft sector. We want to support craft talent and equip individuals with the necessary skills to create a thriving creative and business practice. COMPASS approaches learning and development holistically exploring values and self-development topics alongside business subjects such as finance and marketing.  

Originally launched in 2018 to focus on makers, COMPASS has since expanded to also provide support for curators and craft professionals. It is a continuously evolving programme of support responding to the unique needs of the community, informed by industry experts and feedback from the sector.  

Current activity includes our year-long flagship Emerging Maker programme and pilot project Emerging Curatorial programme. 

Previous COMPASS activities have included free webinars, industry networking sessions, bursaries for established makers to develop their practice and for graduates effected by the pandemic, and residencies for Next Generation makers.  
 

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