Linking new creative thinking with traditional crafts and materials

The central theme of this project is to give a new “twist” to local arts and crafts by teaming up professional creative artists with traditional craft workers. The artists involved will learn traditional skills associated with thatching, basket and sail making and then go on to use these new found skills in innovative ways to create new arts products. The project will run from July 2004 until the end of September 2005.

Business training

The project also recognises that to be successful, artists need business sense as well as new ideas. Those starting up may feel out of place at traditional business events so this project will provide a series of business training workshops tailored specifically to small arts businesses. Training will be provided by a variety of business organisations, including Business Link, Norfolk & Waveney Enterprise Services and WEETU (Women’s Enterprise and Employment Training Unit) supported by arts specialists.
Time to experiment

One barrier to artistic innovation is that workers may not be able to afford to spend time experimenting with new ideas, instead having to concentrate on turning out predictable sale items. Craft Connections will therefore invite artists to compete for six bursaries, which will provide funding towards the time needed to experiment with new craft skills and to develop and perfect new products ready for sale.
Making an exhibition

Both new products and traditional crafts will be promoted via a touring exhibition, at which people will have the opportunity not only to purchase items but also to participate in craft activities themselves. These events will provide new sales opportunities and will also represent new attractions for tourists in the area.

Looking to the future

To encourage longer lasting benefits, the exhibitions will be organised in partnership with community groups from throughout the LEADER+ area. These groups will be given training and support so that the events are all of professional quality and so that they will have skills to organise similar events of their own in the future.

The project will also encourage the participating artists and craft workers to establish a self-managing network for small arts businesses in the Broads and Rivers area. This would enable the organisation of other cooperative projects to support and develop local arts and crafts businesses.

Wide benefits

Craft Connections will offer benefits to many sections of the community:

· Small arts businesses – by having increased knowledge and understanding of business opportunities, by having a wider range of support contacts and by being part of a networking group. The businesses in receipt of bursaries will also learn traditional skills and be able to develop new products.
· Traditional crafts workers – by having an increased interest in their craft and some additional use of local materials.
· Residents and visitors – by having access to a wider range of cultural/heritage activities and an increased awareness of traditional skills and local materials.
· Community groups – those participating in the training will have increased knowledge about cultural and arts opportunities, sources of funding and advice mechanisms.

Outputs

The project will deliver a number of LEADER+ outputs, some of the most notable being:

6 new products derived from local materials
10 new temporary market outlets established, through exhibition events expected to attract 1200 visitors
20 small art businesses accessing business advisory services
6 craft workshop events, expected to attract 50 participants
10 community groups assisted in developing skills
1 new support network established

Grant awarded

Broads & Rivers LEADER+ has provided grant of £43,797, representing 74% of the total project cost of £59,025. Match funding will be provided from core funding of Creative Arts East and a small amount representing contributions from those taking part in the programme.

LEADER+ links

One of the underlying principles behind LEADER+ is to encourage the development of linkages, allowing groups to learn from each other and to work in partnership. This project has drawn on a similar project – “Art of Craft” – run successfully by another LEADER+ group, Dorset’s “Chalk & Cheese”. We are currently investigating the potential for developing further projects that could see participants from both projects working together and with others from additional LEADER+ groups.

Contact

Rosie Evans, Creative Arts East rosie@creativeartseast.co.uk