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 following entries have been selected as the three finalists in each category. This was a fantastic achievement as we had a record number of entries this year and the standard was particularly high.
The finalists will now go forward to the final round of judging. We hope to announce the winners at our conference Craft Uprising on 11 October (we are currently considering Government advice on whether the conference can go ahead). All finalists will be also be invited to the HCA’s Awards Ceremony at the Houses of Parliament on 17 November 2020.
Trainer of the Year Finalists
One of the HCA’s key aims is to ensure that traditional crafts skills of the highest standard are passed from one generation to the next. The enthusiasm, knowledge and experience of key individuals can really influence the number and quality of skilled craftspeople in the UK. The 2020 Finalists are:
Achilles Khorassandjian, shoe maker
Jim Patterson, paper maker
Nigel Turton, thatcher
Trainee of the Year Finalists
The HCA aims to ensure that traditional craft skills survive into the future, and this requires a regular intake of enthusiastic and dedicated new entrants. Identifying and recruiting the right trainee can make the difference to the continuation of heritage craft businesses and in some cases crafts themselves. The 2020 Finalists are:
Manuel Aragon Gimeno, guitar maker
Richard Platt and Sam Cooper, chair makers
Yasmin St Pierre, lapidary
Volunteer of the Year Finalists
In heritage crafts, there are many people who do a tremendous amount on a voluntary basis. Whether independently, or as part of a craft organisation, these volunteers put in huge amounts of time and effort, sometimes over many years to make a real difference to their craft. Their role is often unsung. The 2020 Finalists are:
Ann Day, The Lace Guild
John Savings, The National Hedgelaying Society
Young Quilters Fundraising Committee, The Quilters’ Guild of the British Isles
Made in Britain Award Finalists
We seem to be almost inundated with cheap imported goods from abroad, yet there are still individual craftspeople and small manufacturers who are making great quality British work against all the odds. This award is for those who are flying the flag of British craft and making a success of it. The 2020 Finalists are:
