Latest Exhibition in Keighley

Central Hall Cafe

Photography @ Central Hall is now open to the public until Friday 14 October 2011.
Photographers Steve Rayner and Kath Williamson showcase their images in the exhibition area in Cafe Central.  Central Hall is now open on Saturdays from 9am to 2pm as well as Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. 

Look out for our next exhibition - Printmaking @ Central Hall from Monday 21 November 2011 to Friday 6 January 2012

Ceramic Workshops in Yorkshire

Raku Workshops at Shibden Hall, Halifax

These two day workshops are available to everyone, from beginners to professional ceramic artists. Day 1 is a half day session to create two pieces of work for firing. Day 2 is a full day session to glaze and fire your work in the Stable Yard at Shibden Hall.
Dates: Saturday July 2 and July 9 or Saturday 27 August and 3 September 2011
Costs: £70 for both days, including materials
About the venue: Shibden Hall is a 15th century timber framed manor house set in 37 hectares of park land. Once the home of Anne Lister, Shibden Hall is now owned by Calderdale Council and is a public museum.
Contact: Deborah Comy-Platt, Shibden Hall Estate Manager
01422 352446


Fusions Firing Festival

Dates for this years festival July 15th-17th 2011

A weekend of experimental art and performance firings set in fabulous surroundings in a quiet corner of the Yorkshire Dales. Join in our raku firing, fuming and smoke firing workshops delivered by experienced leaders and be part of the alchemical process that creates exciting and unpredictable pottery.
All workshops take place on Saturday, take part in as many or as few as you like. You can even grab one of our printed local maps and enjoy a walk in stunning scenery direct from the campsite or just take off your shoes and socks and cool off with a paddle in the beck. The evening is rounded off with barbeques, bonfires and a firing extravaganza!
A great weekend for all the family, social and friendly and you go home with a fabulous creation.
No experience necessary. Small groups to ensure plenty of help and advice. To purchase tickets 

visit Yolasite.com 

British Craft Trade Fair

The biggest event in the handmade designer-maker’s Spring calendar has to be the British Craft Trade Fair.

Leigh Shepherd Designs

When:  Sunday 3^rd, Monday  4^th and Tuesday  5^th April 2011 Sunday 10am to 6pm, Monday and Tuesday 10am to 5pm

Where:  Hall 1, The Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG2 8PW

What is it? The BTCF is a trade fair and a brilliant opportunity for designer-makers to showcase their new designs and meet  potential buyers from galleries and  boutiques, jewellery shops and garden centres.  Every designer is British and there is a happy mix of newcomers and returning exhibitors for those important buyers to select from. 

Why should you go? If you are an emerging designer then attending the BTCF will help you to decide whether your product is ready for the retail market. You will be able to see how others display their work and enjoy the buzz of a trade fair. You will also get a good understanding of how a trade fair works before you commit yourself to next year’s event.

What you shouldn’t do. The designers cannot sell their work direct to the public at the BTCF so please don’t ask them.  The designers are a friendly bunch and are generally happy to give you advice about showing your work but please don’t take up their time if there are buyers present.  Oh, and don’t  help yourself to their precious marketing leaflets and brochures, these are for potential buyers.

Although the public cannot buy directly from the designer at the BTCF it is a wonderful chance for British designers to make those all-important contacts with galleries and shops, sell their work by consignment and pick up repeat orders.  It’s also a fabulous way for buyers to find out what the latest trends in handmade are and a way to keep their customers buying British.

http://www.bctf.co.uk/news.php

Wicked Gen Crafts

Made -IT (Shameless Promotion)

"Our aim is to bring craft fairs up to date, making them appeal to everyone of all ages.
We feature a fabulous selection of modern craft, made by hand and sold by the maker. We offer a wide range of beautiful and original gifts for you, your friends and your home to suit all budgets. To our stallholders we want to offer a good deal. We will try our very best to advertise widely, have great venues and offer some exclusivity. So whether you are a customer or a stallholder, we promise a warm welcome and hopefully many successful craft fairs."

Autumn/winter programme of events:
Wetherby Town Hall, Wetherby, West Yorkshire 17 October 2009 10am - 4.30pm
Wesley Chapel, Harrogate, North Yorkshire 14 November 10am - 4.30pm
Wetherby Town Hall, Wetherby, West Yorkshire 21 November 2009 10am - 4.30pm
Wetherby Town Hall, Wetherby, West Yorkshire 5 December 2009 10am - 4.30pm
Wesley Chapel, Harrogate, North Yorkshire 11 December 2009 10am - 4.30pm
Wesley Chapel, Harrogate, North Yorkshire 12 December 2009 10am - 4.30pm

Contact Made - it for further details.

Craft Fairs and Arts Markets

One of the most satisfying ways to sell your art is direct to the public and the most popular way is through craft fairs and art markets. Craft fair organiser Deborah de Brunner shares some details of her life as a promoter of artists and artisans in Yorkshire, UK.

"What is better than making something you dreamt up and someone wants to buy it? Or you see someone in the street carrying your handbag, the one made with your own fair hands? I have only been doing it a year and hope that that thrill won’t go away. But of course if you make things you need somewhere to sell them so you can start all over again.

"I enthusiastically turned up at my first craft fair, spent ages arranging and pricing and finally looked around to see mass-produced goods and some handmade things but handmade in the Philippines! I was so disappointed and that led to a discussion with a friend, which led to us setting up our craft fair business “made-it”.

"Our philosophy is to run “real” craft fairs strictly with only handmade goods which are sold by the maker. We also aim to look after our stallholders by offering friendly, efficient service with some level of exclusivity (who wants to turn up and find 5 similar stalls?). The quality of goods on sale and a good mix of stalls are important to us. We also make coffees, carry bags and do whatever we can to make it an enjoyable day. We even put ourselves on to the streets with a sign to drum up trade and put up with the same jokes and occasional rude comments from passers by. How devoted to our stallholders are we?!

"If I had to give advice to exhibitors I would say to really consider the presentation of their goods, use different heights, lighting, a good background cloth and make their prices obvious. People wander by and need something attractive to make them stop. Notice where people tend to look first and put your strongest product there or even a product that makes people smile and can lead to conversation. I would also exhibit at the same venue a few times to build up relationships with regular customers and to get a feel for what sells best there. The strongest advice though is to “sell” your things…our stallholders who put in the most usually gain the most. It can make you feel a bit self-conscious at first but you’ll soon enjoy it. Smile, chat and be enthusiastic about your craft.

"At the moment we are doing fairs in Harrogate and Wetherby but hope to spread our wings further a field soon. You can find out more about us or contact us at Made-it".