Programme Update 2024/25 from Craft Scotland

Autumn is here, and with the change of the seasons, we would like to share the latest news and upcoming plans from Craft Scotland. 

The past few months have underscored the challenging landscape that makers, curators, educators, and craft professionals face today. Craft plays a significant role in Scotland’s economy, while also remaining one of the most recognised facets of Scottish culture globally. With over 2,000 small craft businesses and countless freelancers, the sector is vital to regional economies throughout the country.  

As the national development agency for craft, we remain committed to advocating for the craft sector. We aim to demonstrate the value of craft as an artform, a creative industry and contributor to our country’s wellbeing and communities. We regularly highlight the contributions of makers and identify key areas that need support and investment through research and consultation.  

One key area for advocacy is the inclusion of craft education in Scotland’s schools. We are continuing our Learning and Engagement work by supporting craft education through Career-Long Professional Learning (CLPL) sessions for teachers and partnership projects.  

Together with Panel, we are advancing our joint advocacy project MAKE Learn and delivering MAKE with the Knit Shop; a two-year teacher development project designed to embed craft approaches in schools supported by Paul Hamlyn Foundation. Working with six primary schools in Dundee, the project is introducing teachers and pupils to new craft-based approaches that support numeracy skills development in the classroom. 

We have been working hard on our Strategic and Business Plan for 2025-2028, while also progressing funding applications including the Multi-Year Funding Programme from Creative Scotland. Alongside peer organisations, we await the outcome from the application in October.  Whilst the process has been time-intensive, it has afforded our team and Board some valuable time for deep reflection and planning.   

This Plan has been shaped by strategic review sessions, sector surveys, consultations, and various research studies commissioned by Craft Scotland or conducted with partners. These efforts have helped us pinpoint areas of need, gaps in support and future challenges. Moving forward, our work will focus on three mission pillars: Presenting Craft, Learning and Engagement, and Leadership and Advocacy. 

We are also refreshing our Presenting Craft programme, particularly in terms of exhibitions and opportunities for makers to connect with both new and established audiences. Working with an independent researcher, we are evaluating our participation in Collect, with the aim of measuring the Fair’s long-term impact on participating makers and the wider craft sector (read more about our 10 editions of Collect and associated research project). The insights gained from this research will help shape our future plans, with additional sector consultations planned to explore new markets and opportunities. Key findings from the Collect research will be shared to support sector development in 2025/26. 

Whilst we develop future exhibitions and events, we are pleased to be supporting If only we had the space curated by COMPASS Curators as part of Craft Scotland’s first Emerging Curators programme. It will explore modern and contemporary politics of housing, property rights, and access to space, featuring a new commission by textile designer Jeni Allison alongside works in textiles, ceramics, and glass by Deirdre Nelson, Fionn Duffy, and Jack Brindley. These works will be contextualised with Glasgow-based archival ephemera and film footage (17 – 26 Oct, Platform, Easterhouse, Glasgow G34 9JW).  

Promote Your Craft Events and Opportunities for Free 

Promote your craft workshop, event or exhibition to an engaged and enthusiastic craft audience with our free What’s On platform. 

We are keen to promote your festive activity through our platforms. Simply list your event on our What’s On section for the chance to be included in our dedicated What’s On round-up in mid-Nov.  

Attract Scotland-based makers to apply to your professional opportunities, with our free Opportunities platform. 

Be the first to know with our newsletters 
Keep up to date with Craft Scotland and more sector-wide opportunities through the monthly Inside Craft Scotland and Opportunities newsletter.  

Send us your news 
Please send us your news and press releases about recent launches, awards and collaborations to hello@craftscotland.org. 

Craft TV 
Delve into the practices of Scotland-based makers and learn about their creative process, techniques, and inspiration. We are always looking to add exciting craft-related videos to Craft TV, email hello@craftscotland.org with information about your video.  

Cover image: Jeni Allison for If only we had the space / Photography by Laura Prieto Martin