News
Nine more grants to help save endangered crafts
A thatching spar maker, a pigment maker, and a boatbuilder are among the recipients of a new round of grants to help safeguard some of the UK’s most endangered craft skills. Heritage Crafts has awarded the grants through its Endangered Crafts Fund, which was launched in 2019 to increase the likelihood of at-risk craft skills surviving into the next generation.
Winners of the 2023 Heritage Crafts Awards
Traditional sign painter Andrew Grundon has won Maker of the Year in the 2023 Heritage Crafts Awards, presented at the College of St George, Windsor Castle on 15 November 2023, sponsored by The Royal Mint. The award, supported by the Marsh Charitable Trust, was one of 14 revealed at the ceremony introduced by Heritage Crafts Co-Chair Jay Blades MBE.
Straw hat maker Lucy wins President’s Award
Straw hat maker Lucy Barlow has won the 2023 President’s Award for Endangered Crafts. The prestigious award, and £3,000 bursary, was initiated by Heritage Crafts’ President the former Prince of Wales. The President’s Award trophy was presented to Lucy at a special presentation at St George’s College, Windsor Castle, on Wednesday 15 November 2023.
Enameller Sally named Precious Metalworker of the Year
Glasgow-based watch dial enameller Sally Morrison has won the inaugural Precious Metalworker of the Year Award sponsored by The Royal Mint, including a £2,000 prize and trophy awarded at a special presentation at the College of St George, Windsor Castle, on Wednesday 15 November 2023.
Woodcarver Tom wins Woodworker of the Year
Woodcarver Tom Ball has won the second annual Woodworker of the Year Award sponsored by Axminster Tools, including a £2,000 prize and trophy awarded at a special presentation at St George’s College, Windsor Castle on Wednesday 15 November 2023.
Precious Metalworker of the Year 2023 finalists
Heritage Crafts and The Royal Mint have announced the finalists of the inaugural Precious Metalworker of the Year award, including a silversmith, a silver spinner and a watch dial enameller. The winner will be announced on 15 November.
Woodworker of the Year 2023 finalists announced
Heritage Crafts and Axminster Tools have announced the finalists of the second annual Woodworker of the Year award, including two woodcarvers and a marionette maker. The winner will be announced on 15 November.
11 new training bursaries awarded
We are delighted to award 11 new bursaries for trainees from across the UK to learn heritage craft skills, supported by the City & Guilds Foundation, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, the Ashley Family Foundation, the Principality Building Society’s Future Generations Fund, the Arts Society, DCA Consulting and Kendrick Hobbs.
President’s Award 2023 finalists announced
The three finalists for the 2023 President’s Award for Endangered Crafts, established by Heritage Crafts President The Former Prince of Wales, have been announced, including a straw hat maker, a coppersmith and a withy pot maker.
Woodworker of the Year Award now open
Heritage Crafts and Axminster Tools have launched the second annual Woodworker of the Year award, with a £2,000 prize for the winning entry to be presented at reception at the Vicar’s Hall, Windsor Castle, this November. The deadline for nominations is 15 September 2023.
Precious Metalworker of the Year Award now open
We have launched the inaugural Precious Metalworker of the Year award as part of our ongoing partnership with The Royal Mint, with a £2,000 prize for the winning entry, as well as a trophy specially designed by Paul Morgan, the Kings Assay Master, to be presented at a high-profile reception at the Vicar’s Hall, Windsor Castle, in November.
Master Crafters: The Next Generation
Bill Bailey’s Master Crafters: The Next Generation, starting on Thursday 13 July on Sky Arts, will see nine early-career craftspeople, who specialise in three heritage crafts, take part in bespoke masterclasses to help them improve in their chosen fields.
Symposium on Precious Metal Skills
Heritage Crafts and the The Royal Mint are bringing together expert practitioners in precious metal crafts from a broad industry base to Somerset House on 25 July to create a consensus across the industry of what is required to support at-risk skills.
read moreHeritage Crafts Awards 2023 finalists announced
Following a strong year full of high-quality nominations, the finalists for this year’s Heritage Crafts Awards, supported by the Marsh Charitable Trust, have been announced for Maker, Trainer, Trainee and Volunteer of the Year, plus a new Lifetime Achievement Award.
Heritage Crafts / QEST sustainability award
Deadline: 1 September 2023, 5pm
Heritage Crafts and the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust have teamed up to create a new Sustainability Award with a £2,000 prize open to any craftsperson or business working with traditional craft skills or materials who has improved their environmental sustainability.
President’s Award for Endangered Crafts
The President's Award for Endangered Crafts was established in 2020 by Heritage Crafts President The former Prince of Wales. Each year the President’s Award presents £3,000 to a heritage craftsperson who will use the funding to ensure that craft skills are passed on...
read moreUp to 11 heritage crafts training bursaries launched
We have launched up to 11 new training bursaries each of up to £4,000, in partnership with a range of sponsors and funders. This follows five bursaries awarded earlier this year with The Royal Mint, more than tripling the organisation’s offering in 2022.
Posthumous BEM for Brian Alcock leads six heritage crafts Honours
The family of the late master hand grinder Brian Alcock have received a posthumous British Empire Medal in the King’s Birthday Honours in recognition of his service to the Sheffield cutlery trade and heritage crafts, along with five other makers nominated by Heritage Crafts.
Last chance to save Carter’s Steam Fair
Carter’s Steam Fair is a nationally-important vintage funfair and the finest example of the endangered craft of fairground art in the UK. There is now a very significant risk of the collection being broken up if it can’t find a new owner and a permanent home.
Kelmscott Manor Maker in Residence announced
Along with our partners the Society of Antiquaries of London, we are thrilled to introduce ceramicist Alison Proctor as the Maker in Residence for 2023 at Kelmscot Manor. This historic residence, once the cherished home of William Morris, will be the backdrop for Alison’s residency from June to October 2023.
Red List of Endangered Crafts at Craft Festival
Join us at Craft Festival in Bovey Tracey from 9 to 11 June for a celebration of the practitioners of endangered crafts featured on the Red List of Endangered Crafts 2023 edition. Come and meet our demonstrators and chat to them about how they are keeping their respective crafts alive!
read moreTraining bursary for those experiencing financial hardship
These training bursaries are targeted at trainees and prospective trainees experiencing financial hardship. They are sponsored by DCA Consulting and Kendrick Hobbs and are part of a suite of awards and bursaries offered by Heritage Crafts to support and celebrate craftspeople.
Training bursary for young people 25 years old or less
These training bursaries are targeted at Wales-based trainees and prospective trainees experiencing financial hardship. They are sponsored by unded by the Ashley Family Foundation and the Principality Building Society’s Future Generations Fund and are part of a suite of awards and bursaries offered by Heritage Crafts to support and celebrate craftspeople.
Training bursary for Black and ethnically diverse makers
This training bursary of up to £4,000 is targeted at Black and ethnically diverse makers, as this is an under-represented group in heritage crafts. It is sponsored by the City & Guilds Foundation and is one of a suite of awards and bursaries to support and celebrate craftspeople.
Training bursary for Army veterans
This training bursary of up to £4,000 is targeted Army veterans. It is sponsored by the ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and is one of a suite of awards and bursaries to support and celebrate craftspeople.
Training bursary for Wales
These training bursaries are targeted at Wales-based trainees and prospective trainees experiencing financial hardship. They are sponsored by unded by the Ashley Family Foundation and the Principality Building Society’s Future Generations Fund and are part of a suite of awards and bursaries offered by Heritage Crafts to support and celebrate craftspeople.
Craft skills under threat with 17 additions to the Red List of Endangered Crafts
New research by Heritage Crafts has unearthed more traditional craft skills on the verge of extinction in the UK, in the latest major update of its pioneering project, the Red List of Endangered Crafts, funded by the Pilgrim Trust.
read moreHeritage Crafts and The Royal Mint award five craft bursaries
The Royal Mint has partnered with Heritage Crafts to award five bursaries to preserve and champion traditional craft skills related to precious metals. Shortlisters selected five successful recipients, all of whom show huge potential through for various reasons require additional support in order to progress their careers.
Seven more grants to help save endangered crafts
A coppersmith, a Highland thatcher and a trainee sailmaker are among seven recipients of a new round of grants to help safeguard some of UK’s most endangered crafts. Five of this round’s grants are funded by The Radcliffe Trust and were selected with special consideration of the impact of the energy crisis.
Three new endangered crafts grants for Sussex
A block printer, a trainee rake maker and a reverse glass sign artist have been awarded grants to help safeguard some of Sussex’s most endangered craft skills, thanks to a partnership between Heritage Crafts and the Sussex Heritage Trust.
Veterans’ training for new careers in heritage crafts
We are delighted to have been awarded a grant from ABF The Soldiers’ Charity to provide three training bursaries in 2023 specifically for Army veterans. ABF The Soldiers’ Charity funds several charities that are devoted to helping former soldiers find gainful employment following their Army service.
Training bursaries for crafts involving precious metals
![The Royal Mint](https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/trm.jpg")
These training bursaries, sponsored by The Royal Mint, are targeted at trainees and prospective trainees of crafts involving precious metals who are experiencing financial hardship.
Deadline for applications:
Friday 10 March, 5pm.
Heritage Crafts Awards 2023 now open
The Heritage Crafts Awards are now open with six brand new awards for 2023 supported by Marsh Charitable Trust, Axminster Tools, Sonnaz Ltd, Rose Uniacke, Sims Hilditch, and Lucy and Laurence Butcher. Deadline for applications: 5 May 2023.
Maker in Residence opportunity at Kelmscott Manor
The Society of Antiquaries of London has partnered with Heritage Crafts to call for Heritage Crafts members to submit expressions of interest in becoming the 2023 Maker in Residence at Kelmscott Manor, the former home of internationally renowned writer, designer-craftsman, conservationist and revolutionary socialist, William Morris.
Heritage Crafts’ Jay Blades launches Discover Creative Careers
Heritage Crafts is partnering with ScreenSkills and over 20 other partners on Discover Creative Careers, which has been awarded over £1 million from the Department for Culture, Media & Sport to inspire young people from 77 target areas across England to pursue a career in the creative industries.
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The Royal Mint announces partnership with Heritage Crafts
The Royal Mint has partnered with Heritage Crafts to launch four bursaries to preserve and champion traditional British craftmanship skills. As Britain’s oldest business and the original maker of UK coins and precious metals, it hopes to utilise its expertise in craftmanship to ensure that precious metal craft skills are passed on to the next generation.
read moreLuthier Jonathan Hill wins Woodworker of the Year Award 2022
London based luthier Jonathan Hill has won the inaugural Woodworker of the Year Award sponsored by Axminster Tools, including a £2,000 prize and trophy awarded at at a special presentation at the House of Lords on Monday 30 January 2023.
Pargeter Johanna Welsh wins President’s Award
Suffolk-based pargeter Johanna Welsh has won the 2022 President’s Award for Endangered Crafts. The prestigious award, and £3,000 bursary, was initiated by Heritage Crafts’ President The Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, before his Accession as HM King Charles III.
Winners of the 2022 Heritage Crafts Awards
Slipware potter Hannah McAndrew has won Maker of the Year in the 2022 Heritage Crafts Awards supported by the Marsh Charitable Trust, which was presented along with five other awards at a prestigious Winners’ Reception at the House of Lords on 30 January 2023 sponsored by The Royal Mint.
Project for 16 to 25-year-olds in West Cornwall
Heritage Crafts and Penwith Landscape Partnership have teamed up to run an exciting heritage crafts pre-apprenticeship programme, which is now seeking 16 to 25-year-olds in West Cornwall to try their hand at Cornish hedging, coppersmithing and basketmaking between February and April 2023.
Impact of the financial crisis and rising energy costs on makers
The current economic recession and spiralling energy costs are severely impacting many craftspeople in the UK. We asked our members for their thoughts and feelings on the current situation, to support our funding bids to help alleviate pressure on the heritage crafts...
read moreTraditional Wooden Boat Building Survey
In October 2022 the Wooden Boat Builders Trade Association and Heritage Crafts held a Symposium on Traditional Wooden Boat Building. It was a well-attended event and raised some very interesting points for discussion. There was a clear message from the boat...
read moreBuy Less, Buy Better, Buy Handmade
We’ve partnered up with Folksy, CRAFT Festival, Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair and the Crafts Council to create a national campaign designed to support makers across the UK and encourage shoppers to BUY LESS, BUY BETTER, BUY HANDMADE.
Promising future beckons for tinsmithing
Tinsmithing skills have been passed on to a new generation of makers in unique masterclasses, organised with the generous support of The Worshipful Company of Tinplate Workers Alias Wireworkers and Heritage Crafts’ Endangered Crafts Fund.
Two new bursaries for trainees experiencing financial hardship
Heritage Crafts, DCA Consulting, Kendrick Hobbs and the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers are delighted to award two new bursaries for heritage crafts trainees experiencing financial hardship to horology trainee Michael Dickson and bookbinder Toben Lewis.
Two new bursaries for Black and ethnically diverse trainees
Heritage Crafts and the City & Guilds Foundation are delighted to award two new bursaries for Black and ethnically diverse trainees in heritage crafts to early-career basketmaker Michelle Mateo and mid-career stone carver Marcia Bennett Male.
HM The King and Jay Blades support heritage crafts
Heritage Crafts President HM King Charles starred alongside Heritage Crafts Co-Chair Jay Blades MBE in an episode of The Repair Shop on 26 October as part of celebrations for the BBC’s centenary. Find out how you could support our work.
Five new grants awarded to help save endangered crafts from extinction
A pargeter, a shoe maker, reverse glass sign makers and a passementerier are the recipients of the latest round of grants awarded to help safeguard some of the UK’s most endangered craft skills. With the support of the Pilgrim Trust, we have awarded a further five grants from our Endangered Crafts Fund.
Woodworker of the Year finalists 2022
Heritage Crafts and Axminster Tools have announced the finalists of the inaugural Woodworker of the Year award, including a woodcarver, a furniture maker and a musical instrument maker. The winner will be announced on Monday 30 January.
Jay Blades MBE and David Clarke become Co-Chairs
We are delighted to announce that David Clarke and Jay Blades MBE will be leading our Board of Trustees as Co-Chairs over the next three years. We believe that the Co-Chairing approach will serve us well as it enters a new strategic period responding to a country undergoing rapid social, financial, political and environmental changes.
Symposium on Traditional Wooden Boat Building Skills
Heritage Crafts and the Wooden Boat Builders Trade Association are bringing a group of experts and stakeholders together to ask this question and to consider the case for traditional wooden boat building being added to the Red List of Endangered Crafts, with the generous support of the Pilgrim Trust.
read moreNew Heritage Crafts Ambassador Rose Sinclair
We are delighted to announce that Rose Sinclair is joining Heritage Crafts as our new Ambassador! Rose is a lecturer at Goldsmiths, University of London, and has passion for textiles and the stories that can be told through cloth,
Heritage Crafts Awards 2022 finalists announced
Following a strong year full of high-quality nominations, the finalists for this year’s Heritage Crafts Awards, supported by the Marsh Charitable Trust, have been announced for Maker, Trainer, Trainee and Volunteer of the Year.
Heritage Crafts X Satchel Careers Workshop (11-18 year olds)
Heritage Crafts is teaming up with Satchel to showcase some of the nation’s most creative careers. In this free online workshop we will introduce students to two inspiring craftspeople who will speak about their own journey with craft, and how they have made the best use of social media and video to promote their work.
President’s Award 2022 finalists announced
The three finalists for the third President’s Award for Endangered Crafts, established by Heritage Crafts President HRH The Prince of Wales, have been announced, including a pottery manufacturer, a split hazel basket maker, and a pargeter.
MBE for wheelwright Greg Rowland in the Jubilee Birthday Honours
Wheelwright Greg Rowland has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in recognition of his unparalleled craftsmanship and tireless work in ensuring their skills are passed on to current and future generations.
The Prince’s Master Crafters
Heritage Crafts President HRH The Prince of Wales has lent his name to a new seven-part series, ‘The Prince’s Master Crafters: The Next Generation’, set to spotlight Britain’s rich heritage of traditional crafts, airing from 18 May on Sky Arts.
read moreHeritage Crafts and the Museum of Making collaborate to save tinsmithing
A unique tinsmithing masterclass will be held in September with generous support from The Worshipful Company of Tin Plate Workers alias Wire Workers and the Heritage Crafts Endangered Crafts Fund.
Could you be our new Chair?
Deadline for applications: Sunday 19 June 2022 Heritage Crafts has enlisted the help of Inclusive Boards in our search for a new Chair. Heritage Crafts is seeking a new Chair to lead the organisation through the next stage of its strategic and operational development....
read moreCity & Guilds Foundation support bursary for Black and minority ethnic trainees
The City & Guilds Foundation and Heritage Crafts are delighted to announce a new bursary for Black and minority ethnic trainees in heritage crafts. The first bursary is being awarded to carpenter Nkosi Kerr, who moved to the UK from Tobago in 2019.
New partnership with Axminster Tools
Axminster Tools and Heritage Crafts are delighted to announce a brand new partnership to celebrate UK woodworking skills, featuring a new Woodworker of the Year award to be launched later this summer.
Heritage Crafts and Sussex Heritage Trust support millwrighting trainee
A trainee millwright has been awarded a grant to help safeguard one of Sussex’s most endangered craft skills thanks to a grant from Heritage Crafts supported by the Sussex Heritage Trust.
Six new grants awarded to help save endangered crafts from extinction
A kiltmaker, a clockmaker and a typefounder are among the recipients of the latest round of grants awarded to help safeguard some of the UK’s most endangered craft skills.
Endangered Craft Week
21 March 2022 marked the inaugural #EndangeredCraftWeek, an effort by Heritage Crafts and partner The Prince’s Foundation to shine a light on the urgent need to preserve traditional craft skills.
Patricia Lovett MBE to step down as Chair
Patricia Lovett MBE will step down as Chair of Heritage Crafts at the end of May, after four-and-a-half years as Chair and previously seven-and-a-half years as Vice-Chair, having co-founded the national charity for traditional craft skills which launched in 2010.
Daahir Mohamed awarded Heritage Crafts bursary
Lime plasterer Daahir Mohamed has been awarded our new bursary targeted at Black and ethnically diverse makers, an under-represented group in traditional crafts. The grant, sponsored by DCA Consulting, will help to support him during his six-month SPAB Fellowship.
Winners of the 2021 Heritage Crafts Awards
Glass engraver Tracey Sheppard has won Maker of the Year in the 2021 Heritage Crafts Awards supported by the Marsh Charitable Trust, one of a number of awards presented at a prestigious Winners’ Reception at the House of Lords on 2 February.
The Making of Coventry
Thanks to funding by Coventry City Council, Heritage Crafts is teaming up with Creative Lives for a programme of events and on-air coverage of crafts in Coventry, to coincide with Coventry City of Culture.
New Heritage Crafts Ambassador Will Kirk
We are delighted to announce that Star of BBC The Repair Shop and BBC Morning Live Will Kirk is joining Heritage Crafts as our brand new Ambassador.
Eight new grants awarded to help save endangered crafts from extinction
A lithographer, a wallpaper maker and an oak bark tanner are among the recipients of the latest round of grants awarded to help safeguard some of the UK’s most endangered craft skills.
Watchmaker Rebecca wins President’s Award
Birmingham-based watchmaker Dr Rebecca Struthers has won the 2021 HCA President’s Award for Endangered Crafts. The prestigious award, and £3,000 bursary, was initiated by Heritage Crafts Association President HRH The Prince of Wales.
Black Artisans featured in a new photography exhibition
The Black Artisans is a new photography exhibition that will celebrate twenty four UK Black makers and craftspeople, capturing traditional sectors of UK heritage crafts alongside areas of cultural heritage.
Rose Uniacke supports HCA with new textiles range
Designer Rose Uniacke has partnered with the Heritage Crafts Association to create ‘Remnant Weave’, a new fabric remnants collection, the profits of which will be donated to help safeguard endangered artisanal and craft skills in the UK.
In Conversation
In Conversation At the beginning of the first COVID-19 lockdown we began running a series of free online events on Zoom. Here you can re-watch the recordings of all of these sessions. Click here for details of our forthcoming events and click here to watch our...
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Craft skills under threat with 27 additions to the HCA Red List of Endangered Crafts
New research by the Heritage Crafts Association has unearthed more traditional craft skills on the verge of extinction in the UK, in the latest major update of its pioneering project, the HCA Red List of Endangered Crafts, funded by the Pilgrim Trust.
read moreMBEs for three heritage craftspeople in the Birthday Honours
Plaster worker Geoffrey Preston, basket maker Hilary Burns, and coppice worker Rebecca Oaks have been awarded MBEs in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2021, in recognition of their unparalleled craftsmanship and tireless work in ensuring their skills are passed on to current and future generations.
Heritage Crafts Awards finalists announced
Following a strong year full of high-quality nominations, the finalists for this year's Heritage Crafts Awards, supported by the Marsh Christian Trust, have been announced. The finalists are (in alphabetical order): HCA/Marsh Maker of the Year Fabian Bush, boat...
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President’s Award 2021 finalists announced
The three finalists for the second President's Award for Endangered Crafts, established by Heritage Crafts Association President HRH The Prince of Wales, have been announced. Each year the President’s Award presents £3,000 to a heritage craftsperson who will use the...
read moreNine new grants awarded to help save endangered crafts from extinction
A chair seater, a concertina maker and a brick and tile maker are among the recipients of the latest round of grants awarded to help safeguard some of the UK’s most endangered craft skills.
HCA receives Ruskin Society Award
The Heritage Crafts Association has been recognised by the Ruskin Society with a special award for its contribution to supporting and safeguarding heritage crafts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
MBE for Buckinghamshire straw worker Veronica Main
Veronica Main from Hazelmere in Buckinghamshire has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours, in recognition of a lifetime spent researching, practicing and teaching the craft of straw plaiting for the hat industry.
Luton hatmaking facing crisis with the closure of ‘Peaky Blinders’ company
Traditional British hat making skills have suffered a major hit with the announcement of the closure of historic firm Olney Headwear Ltd, makers of the iconic Peaky Blinders hats. On Monday 21 December the company left its factory to make way for housing developers to build 31 apartments.
Let the bells ring out for Christmas!
The last operating bellfoundry in Britain has been saved just in time for Christmas, thanks to £3.45m from the National Lottery. As well as to protect the site, our aim is to make the Loughborough Bellfoundry the global centre for the art of bell making and learning and provide an engaging and exciting visitor experience.
read moreEndangered Crafts Fund for Sussex
We are working in partnership with the Sussex Heritage Trust to provide Sussex-based applicants with grants of up to £2,000 to help save endangered crafts from extinction. The Trust has recently received funding from the Ian M Foulerton Trust, alongside other donations, to fund the Sussex-based grants, which will be administered through our Endangered Crafts Fund.
Red List 2021 support from the Pilgrim Trust
We are pleased to announce a new six-month research project funded by the Pilgrim Trust, which will provide a major update and expansion of our groundbreaking Red List of Endangered Crafts, first published in 2017.
Winners of the 2020 Heritage Crafts Awards
Sheffield scissor makers Ernest Wright have won the inaugural President’s Award for Endangered Crafts in this year’s Heritage Crafts Awards. The prestigious award, and £3,000 bursary, was initiated by Heritage Crafts Association (HCA) President HRH The Prince of Wales.
Five new grants awarded to help save endangered crafts from extinction
A coppersmith, a withy pot maker and a disappearing fore-edge painter are among the recipients of the latest round of grants awarded to help safeguard some of the UK’s most endangered craft skills.
HCA steps up support with the Swire Charitable Trust
We are delighted to announce that we have received a grant of £90,000 from the Swire Charitable Trust – to help meet urgent needs among craftspeople, step up campaigns for recognition and help transform lives through craft.
Bookbinding Apprenticeship Scheme to close due to COVID-19
The Queen’s Bindery Apprenticeship Scheme will close in October, three years earlier than planned. Led by the Royal Collection Trust, the scheme had aimed to train six apprentices in the specialist techniques of traditional bookbinding. With all full time courses now...
read morePresident’s Award for Endangered Crafts finalists announced
A scissor maker (pictured with his team), a paper maker and an industrial ceramics practitioner have been selected as the three finalists from a shortlist of eight, as part of the inaugural President’s Award for Endangered Crafts.
Shortlists for the 2020 Heritage Crafts Awards
The first round of judging for this year’s Heritage Crafts Awards, in association with the Marsh Christian Trust, has taken place and we are delighted to announce the 12 entries that have been selected as finalists.
COVID-19 grants
We are offering grants of up to £500 for craftspeople operating as sole traders and small businesses to invest in something that will help make their business more sustainable during and after the COVID-19 pandemic or to ‘bridge the gap’ until future income can be secured.
Eight more grants awarded to help save endangered crafts
An apprentice sail maker, boot tree maker and folding knife maker are among the recipients of the latest round of grants awarded to help safeguard some of the UK’s most endangered craft skills.
HCA joins forces with the Michelangelo Foundation to bring the Red List to Europe
The Heritage Crafts Association is delighted to announce a partnership with the Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship to bring the HCA Red List of Endangered Crafts to a European level.
Trainee sought to help secure the endangered craft of boot tree making
Horace Batten Bootmakers in Northamptonshire is currently seeking a trainee boot tree maker to help secure the future of its business, whilst at the same time safeguarding an endangered craft skill.
Metal thread making business for sale
The Golden Threads workshop in East Sussex, one of only two remaining UK producers of metal threads for embroidery, is currently up for sale as a going concern, as owners William and Diana Kentish Barnes plan to retire.
Three MBEs awarded to heritage craftspeople
Three of the best heritage craftspeople from across the UK have been awarded MBEs in the New Year Honours List 2020, in recognition of their unparalleled craftsmanship and tireless work in ensuring their skills are passed on to current and future generations.
HCA and Allchurches Trust working together to save endangered heritage crafts
The Heritage Crafts Association (HCA) is delighted to announce that it has received a grant of £12,000 from Allchurches Trust to help save endangered heritage crafts from extinction. The Allchurches Trust project will be administered through the HCA’s Endangered Crafts Fund.
Millwright training opportunity
Millwrighting has been identified by the Red List of Endangered Crafts as a critically endangered skill. As a result, SPAB is inviting applications for one place on its Craft Fellowship scheme from a craftsperson in any relevant trade who has an interest in mills, and in using and extending their skills to repair and maintain them.
Five grants awarded to help save endangered crafts
A new mobile facility to teach neon bending and the restoration of one of the last surviving damask looms are among the projects that have recently received funds to help ensure a better future for some of the UK’s most endangered crafts.