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An art installation of strips of african print cloth hanging from the rafter of the Great Barn at Gawthorpe Hall. The work is by Lubaina Himid as part of The British Textile Biennial 2021

Building a healthy craft ecology

Working together to help craft thrive in England’s North West

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About us
Maker Lisa Watson showing a customer some textiles at the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair
Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair, maker Lisa Watson with customer

We’re a group of organisations and individuals with a passion for craft who are based in the North West of England, UK. Together, we aim to boost our strong regional identity and build a healthy craft ecology.

Find out more about us

Join us
A maker demonstrates part of a screen printing process
Bluecoat Display Centre, twilight workshop for arts educators (CERI, 2019)

If you’re an organisation or consultant working with craft in the North West of England, and you’d like to collaborate with us to see craft thrive in the region, please join us! You’d be very welcome

Find out how to join us

Our priorities
A young woman stands in front of some striking textiles of her own design
Denise Gouveia, Designer and alumnus of the University of Bolton

After the turmoil of 2020, we took some time as a group to work on what our priorities should be for the next few years. We decided that there are four key things we need to focus on…

Find out more about our priorities

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Latest news

Kate Day Fund for emerging makers

Many of you knew and met Kate Day, who worked for many years and in several different roles around Manchester, and was a passionate advocate for craft, always working to celebrate and promote it. Kate passed away in 2022, and we miss her enormously. In recognition of her…

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Header image: Lost Threads by Lubaina Himid in the Old Barn at Gawthorpe Hall. Part of The British Textile Biennial 2021