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This page provides a general overview of the craft sector, and highlights some of the organisations that promote and support your industry. Use them with our Support Directory to find funding, networks, market research and distribution channels to help develop your creative business.
It is made up largely of sole traders with some small companies and partnerships. These professionals usually sell craft directly to their customers or through retailers. Sales routes include craft fairs, open studio events, exhibitions and websites supported through a strong presence on social media. Craftspeople also generate income by sharing their skills and knowledge through workshops, talks, masterclasses, residencies and community projects.
Craft Scotland is a charity and community that brings together professional and non-professional craft makers. It is a hub for finding events, makers and places, including exhibitions, workshops, classes, fairs, open studios and pop-up shops. They create and feature opportunities for makers to exhibit, sell and promote their work in Scotland, the UK and internationally.
The Crafts Council supports all kinds of makers across many areas of the craft sector. It offers personal and business development advice, industry research and policy, championing craft in education, activities to encourage innovation, creating and collaborating exhibitions and a home for the national collection. The Crafts Council deliver this support in England and Wales – in Scotland they work in partnership with Craft Scotland to deliver some of their professional development programmes.
Applied Arts Scotland (AAS) is run by makers for makers. It is a charity that supports the on-going professional development of makers, provides resources to professionals and facilitates networking between makers. It does this through co-operation and collaboration with other support organisations. Its website has film resources, a calendar of activity and a members' area.
The Design Trust is an online business school for designers and makers. They offer events, courses, e-books and opportunities to give you the skills, knowledge and confidence to establish and run your business whatever stage you are at. Some of their resources are free, but most are available through different levels of affordable membership.
Make Works is a curated directory of Scottish manufacturing. Those working in the crafts feature prominently and include makers, manufacturers, factories and material suppliers. The in-depth directory helps you to source what you need to make your work and facilitates collaborations with others involved in making.
The Heritage Crafts Association (HCA) is an advocacy body working to safeguard heritage crafts as a fundamental part of our living heritage by promoting and supporting those working in traditional heritage crafts. A directory of craftspeople, interactive crafts map and details of their annual conference can be found on their website.
Regional networks offer a variety of professional development support, funding and exhibiting and selling opportunities. Their offer depends on what they do, why and when. They usually have an experienced and well connected person in post responsible for development and delivery. Networks can be associated with a venue, event, discipline or programme of activity. Here are a few:
You'll find more crafts sector support from:
Strong craft networks exist in the specific disciplines. These guilds, societies and membership organisations are usually led by makers. They offer the opportunity for like-minded makers to discuss creative and business issues, exhibit, sell, influence and realise opportunities. Often there is a UK network and a Scottish network, for instance the Contemporary Glass Society (CGS) and the Scottish Glass Society (SGS). Listings of craft organisations, guilds and societies can be found on websites including Craft Scotland, Crafts Council, HCA and Craft & Design magazine.
You can showcase your work and meet makers in your area through regional open studio networks:
