Staying Alive exhibition
2nd May 2026 | ANNOUNCEMENTS | OUR STORIES
Endangered crafts of the Southwest of England, co-curated by Make Southwest and Heritage Crafts
When: 2 May to 4 July 2026
Where: Make Southwest, Riverside Mill, Fore Street, Bovey Tracey, Devon TQ13 9AF
This exhibition shines a light on some of the Southwest’s most endangered crafts.
Fourteen master makers share their skills, tools, and stories, showing how traditions shaped by the region’s land and sea still have relevance and beauty today. From boatbuilding and ropemaking to hedging, basketmaking and tanning, these crafts connect past and present, keeping centuries of knowledge alive in the modern world.
- Find out about visiting the exhibition
- Experience the exhibition remotely on Bloomberg Connects
- Book onto one of the events:
- Friday 8 May, 10.30am to 4.30pm – Signwrite Your Own Ornate Letter, a workshop with Amy Goodwin
- Tuesday 26 May, 10.30am to 12.30pm – Make a Ditty Bag, a workshop for children & families with Sue Liscoe
- Tuesday 26 May, 1.30pm to 3.30pm – Make a Ditty Bag, a workshop for children & families with Sue Liscoe
- Saturday 9 May 2026, 10am to 4pm – Collaborative Corn Dolly Making, drop-in session with Vicky Putler
- Friday 19 June 2026, 10.30am to 3.30pm – Make a Flax Corn Dolly, a workshop with Vicky Putler
- Friday 3 July, 10.30am to 3.30pm – Withy Pot Demo & Meet the Maker with Sue Morgan
- Saturday 4 July, 10.30am to 4pm – Make a Willow Crab Pot, a workshop with Sue Morgan
- Hear talks with some of the exhibitors at Craft Festival Bovey Tracey, 12 to 14 June 2026
- Buy an A2 poster of the exhibition map illustrated by Verity Robinson