We need YOU to tell the Design Council about US!
The Design Council is hosting a gathering of all the UK’s regional design networks in mid December. They’d like to include your views in their discussions. So, please tell them your take on the value of being part of your local group and the South West Design Forum.
http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/Design-Council/Files/Surveys/design-networks-survey/
We need more local craft and design groups. There are many bespoke furniture maker/designers in the East Devon area whose work leans more towards art than craft, but who do not belong to a design group. There is the Devon Guild of Craftsmen in Bovey Tracey and there is another in Bristol, but nothing local to our area. I would be willing to help set one up and am currently looking into grants to set up a venue where artisans can display their work. There is so much wonderful craft in England which is seen by so few people because of the high cost to makers of displaying their work. At a time when many of these makers are on the verge of shutting down because of the current economc conditions, we need mnore than ever to preserve their skills by promoting their work.
Talent is a wonderful gift, but unnurtured it will be lost. The UK is full of talent but we do such a poor job of nurturing it. We are an economic leader in the world and yet we fall so far behind other European countries in leading the way in design. I applaud the Arts Council for what they do, and I realise money is tight at the moment, but I still feel there is so much more that can be done so that we don’t lose the talent and skills of the people that make this country special.