Craft status
The Heritage Crafts Red List
Drawing on the conservation status system used by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List and the Rare Breeds Survival Trust Watchlist, Heritage Crafts uses a system of four categories of risk to assess the viability of heritage crafts. A heritage craft is considered to be viable if there are sufficient craftspeople to transmit the craft skills to the next generation.
Extinct in the UK
Crafts classified as ‘extirpated’ or ‘locally extinct’ are those which are no longer practised in the UK. For the purposes of this research, this category only includes crafts which have become extinct in the past generation.
Critically Endangered
Crafts classified as ‘critically endangered’ are those at serious risk of no longer being practised in the UK. They may include crafts with a shrinking base of craftspeople, crafts with limited training opportunities, crafts with low financial viability, or crafts where there is no mechanism to pass on the skills and knowledge.
Endangered
Crafts classified as ‘endangered’ are those which currently have sufficient craftspeople to transmit the craft skills to the next generation, but for which there are serious concerns about their ongoing viability. This may include crafts with a shrinking market share, an ageing demographic or crafts with a declining number of practitioners.
Currently Viable Crafts
Crafts classified as ‘currently viable’ are those which are in a healthy state and have sufficient craftspeople to transmit the craft skills to the next generation. They may include crafts with a large market share, widely popular crafts, or crafts with a strong local presence. A classification of ‘currently viable’ does not mean that the craft is risk-free or without issues affecting its future sustainability/viability.
Heritage Crafts Inventory
The 2025 edition of the Red List of Endangered Crafts marks a significant evolution in how we understand and safeguard traditional crafts.
This year, we introduce the Heritage Craft Inventory – a new, inclusive framework that ensures all heritage crafts, regardless of their current status, have a place where they are recognised and valued under one umbrella. This expanded approach allows us to shine a light not only on endangered and critically endangered crafts, but also on those that are resurgent, culturally distinctive, or rooted in specific communities and regions. It reflects the dynamic landscape of craft today – one that is constantly evolving and shaped by both challenges and opportunities.
Culturally distinctive crafts
Crafts designated as ‘culturally distinctive’ might have a broad uptake across the UK, but hold a particular significance for a defined community of practice, whether that is geographic, cultural, ethnic or religious. Those that are also on the Red List are known as ‘crafts in need of cultural safeguarding’.
- Canal art and boat painting (craft for cultural safeguarding)
- Cornish hedging (craft for cultural safeguarding)
- Fair Isle Knitting
- Fair Isle straw back chair making (craft for cultural safeguarding)
- Fairground art (craft for cultural safeguarding)
- Gansey knitting
- Harris tweed weaving
- Islamic calligraphy
- Northern Isles basket making (craft for cultural safeguarding)
- Orkney chair making (craft for cultural safeguarding)
- Petrakivka (craft for cultural safeguarding)
- Pysanky (craft for cultural safeguarding)
- Sgian dubh and dirk making (craft for cultural safeguarding)
- Shetland lace knitting
- Shinty caman making
- Sofrut calligraphy
- Sporran making (craft for cultural safeguarding)
- Thatching (Irish vernacular) (craft for cultural safeguarding)
- Thatching (Scottish vernacular) (craft for cultural safeguarding)
- Thatching (Welsh vernacular) (craft for cultural safeguarding)
- Vardo and living wagon crafts (craft for cultural safeguarding)
- Welsh double cloth weaving (craft for cultural safeguarding)
Resurgent crafts
Crafts designated as ‘resurgent’ are currently experiencing a positive trajectory as a result of an upswing in new entrants. Just because a craft is considered resurgent does not mean that it cannot also be endangered, but rather that its decline has started to reverse and that its situation is likely to continue improving.
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#matchMAKER opportunity!
Blacksmithing Craft Fellow
Location: Balfron, Glasgow
Historic Environment Scotland’s @histenvscot Craft Fellowship programme offers hands-on experience in traditional skills and building conservation, enabling you to work on live projects, expand your knowledge and build a professional network. As a Craft Fellow, you will receive expert mentorship, group training, and support for your continuous professional development goals, combining practical work with learning from industry experts.
You will be based at Two Ravens Forge @two_ravens_forge where you will receive mentoring, training and experience in blacksmithing, traditional metal forging techniques and modern metal work technology.
Find out more including how to apply at https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/matchmaker.
#matchMAKER is the online platform for work-based training and entry-level employment opportunities hosted by @heritagecrafts and supported by @soanebritain.
It was a delight to hear from @jessica_light_, the ‘Tassel Queen of Bethnal Green’ and London’s last working passementerie weaver and maker. 🧵
We recorded the talk and you can find in the ‘In Conversation’ section of our website (under ‘The Makers’), where you can find a whole library of great talks.
Jessica is one of the last of a long line of passementeriers to be trained within what is now an extinct London industry. She is known for making innovative, design-led passementerie that is hand-woven and hand-made to order in her East London workshop using techniques dating back to the 16th century.
Jessica considers all the elements, from colour to material to concept, to create unique collections of tassels, trims, tiebacks, rosettes and one-off bespoke pieces.
She uses these historic skills, like a potter using throwing techniques, as a means to create original passementerie designs that go beyond the traditions of perceived passementerie and look to the future.
🔗 https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/in-conversation/
⏰ 1 hour in length
#matchMAKER opportunity!
Trainee Multiskilled Cloth Production Operative
Location: Guiseley, Leeds
Abraham Moon & Sons @abrahammoonsons is an international brand with a long-standing reputation for innovation, design and premium quality – producing authentic, woollen fabrics and accessories for leading fashion brands and interior designers worldwide.
The company is looking for an enthusiastic Trainee Multiskilled Cloth Production Operative to join its team. You’ll work alongside experienced weavers, twisters and tuners, learning all of these technical crafts while completing the in house training program. The role plays a key role in preserving Abraham Moon & Sons’ craftsmanship and heritage while building the foundations of a skilled career.
Find out more including how to apply at https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/matchmaker.
#matchMAKER is the online platform for work-based training and entry-level employment opportunities hosted by @heritagecrafts and supported by @soanebritain.
The Wales Members meet up was wonderful!
Co-ordinated by volunteer Gavin Davidson @mrgdfd and hosted by Gill Jones at her @RuralSkillsCentre in South Wales, Heritage Crafts Members had the opportunity to meet, eat cake and share their crafts with each other.
The importance of these sorts of socials is invaluable, and we are certain that everyone who attended gained something from the day. There is something special about meeting other people who care about the same things you do.
If you would like to support heritage crafts or join in on an event, consider becoming a member.
Here are the wonderful members that we got to meet:
James Ashwell of @Mottes_Pots who is a clay pipe maker who completed a Heritage Crafts funded residency with the @ironbridgegnt Trust in 2024.
Paul Morgan who was the former King’s Assay Master.
@IsabellaOssett a bursary recipient, who is doing an apprenticeship with master @goldpolisher for polishing.
@SamanthaJonesQuilts who is a recipient of the @jw_anderson bursary for quilt making in the frame.
@MandyNash, who is a jewellery and textile designer who has a love of British wool and felting.
@little_robin_red who has been working with and teaching the heritage craft of strawcraft and is working to gain more recognition for Welsh heritage crafts.
@scarecrowcottage crafts original and unique art dolls as objects of power and interpretations of cultural influences. She uses dollmaking as a form of craftivism and is interested in the ancient and historical use of effigies and elementals.
Thank you so much to @ruralcraftscenter for hosting us and providing delicious food and cake and thank you to our volunteer Gavin for your support in organising this.
Thank you to the Heritage Crafts team who spent the day with us and specifically @elizabeth.bizz.fretty, our membership manager who shared her last day with us on Friday.
#wales #heritagecraft #livingheritage
This week’s #mondaymaker is Ruth Osborne @ruthosborne_art.
Ruth is a Northern Irish textile artist and print maker based in rural County Down. Her work is linked to place, seasonal transitions and heritage.
She uses a range of printmaking processes – particularly the historic process of nature printing, and the heritage crafts of natural dyeing and ink making – to create original artworks on Irish linen.
View Ruth’s full profile on our Makers’ Directory: https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/maker/ruthosborne/
#craft #printing #naturaldyes #heritagecrafts
#matchMAKER opportunity!
Bespoke Staircase Timberwork Trainee
Location: Lewes, East Sussex
Founded in 1966, Spiral specialises in the design, manufacture and install of bespoke feature staircases, serving both residential and commercial clients all over the world.
Spiral is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Bespoke Staircase Timberwork Worker/Trainee to join its specialised team. This paid position offers an excellent opportunity to develop skills in timber craftsmanship, manufactured and installing within a high-end bespoke staircase environment.
The successful candidate will gain hands-on experience in timberwork processes while supporting various organisational tasks. A proactive attitude, strong communication skills, and a willingness to learn are essential for this role.
Find out more including how to apply at https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/matchmaker.
#matchMAKER is the online platform for work-based training and entry-level employment opportunities hosted by @heritagecrafts and supported by @soanebritain.
Northern Ireland is home to an incredible wealth of traditional skills. We are thrilled to announce that nominations are now OPEN for the Northern Ireland Maker of the Year Award 2026 supported by @mournetextiles.
We want to recognise a heritage craftsperson in Northern Ireland who has made an outstanding contribution in the past 12 months. Whether you’ve pushed your craft to new heights or worked tirelessly to promote its survival, we want to champion the simple, humble and essential skills that define our communities.
There is a £1,000 prize for the winner to be presented at a high-profile Winners’ Reception in November. Plus, one winner from the four UK nations will have their prize topped up to £2,000, supported by the Marsh Charitable Trust.
📅 Deadline: Friday 21 August 2026 (at 5pm)
➡️ Nominate someone (or yourself) today via the linktr.ee in our bio or directly at https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/our-awards/northern-ireland-maker-of-the-year-award/
📷 2024 finalist Aaron Leach @swiftsforge
#heritagecrafts #craftskills #northernirelandmaker #madeinnorthernireland #traditionalskills
#matchMAKER opportunity!
Heritage Craft Brickwork Apprentice
Location: Hampton Court Palace
Deadline: 7 May 2026
Historic Royal Palaces is the independent charity responsible for the management of six royal palaces and their associated content and landscapes. In collaboration with Simpson Brickwork Conservation and The Building Craft College, Historic Royal Palaces is recruiting for a Heritage Craft Brickwork Apprentice to train to become a skilled craftsperson specialising in the conservation, repair, and restoration of historic brick structures.
Working alongside experienced heritage bricklayers and conservation professionals, the apprentice will develop traditional skills, technical knowledge, and an understanding of historic materials and methods, while completing a Level 3 apprenticeship qualification. This role is ideal for someone passionate about traditional construction, historic buildings, and high-quality craftsmanship who will work and train under the expert mentoring of Simpson Brickwork Conservation.
Find out more including how to apply at https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/matchmaker.
#matchMAKER is the online platform for work-based training and entry-level employment opportunities hosted by @heritagecrafts and supported by @soanebritain.
