November 2011

• HCA organise the first meeting of the Skills working group to take forward ideas and issues raised at the Skills Forum held earlier this year.
• HCA become a partner for the Cockpit Arts/NADFAS Award, to be implemented in 2012.

 

October 2011

• Greta Bertram represents HCA at World Skills event, London.
• Following lobbying from HCA, Creative and Cultural Skills initiate crafts mapping project, that will include traditional crafts.

 

September 2011

• First enewsletter for HCA Friends is published. Membership now at 250.

 

August 2011

• Applications open for the first ever Marsh Awards for Heritage Crafts.

 

July 2011

• HCA exhibit at pretigious craft event 'Art in Action' and HCA Chair, Robin Wood is invited to give a talk.

 

June 2011

• Complete Councils Survey Report by HCA Trustee, Greta Bertram, is published. 

 

May 2011

• HCA host a Skills Forum in London. Over 100 craftspeople and organisations came to discuss how craft skills can best be passed onto the next generation. Event kindly sponsored by The Balvenie. 

 

March 2011

• HCA Spring Conference with Professor Tanya Harrod, Alex Langlands of the BBC Edwardian Farm programme, and makers at the V&A.
• We have also had meetings and/or detailed talks with over seventy craft associations, and are currently following up as many others of the rest that we can contact.

 

January/February 2011

• Meeting with Skills Minister John Hayes.
• Meeting with significant leaders in the world of heritage and craft, organised by Lord Cormack.

 

November 2010

• Meeting with Caroline Felton, CEO, Creative & Cultural Skills.
• Meeting with John Edwards, English Heritage lead on skills.
• Meeting with Andrew Sich, Head of Policy & Corporate Affairs, City and Guilds.
• Meeting with John Taylor, Livery Company Skills Council.
• Meeting with John Penrose, Minister for Tourism and Heritage. Mr Penrose issues statement recognising crafts as 'valuable parts of our heritage'.
• Appointed first Administrator Sally Dodson, funded by the Headley Trust.
• Sheffield Metal Trade Audit meeting to agree scope and staff appointed.

 

August 2010

• Patricia Lovett represents HCA on the CCS committee formed to take the Crafts NOS to the next stage.
• Robin Wood meets with Sheffield City Council to initiate survey into metal trade skills.
• Robin Wood speaks at Carpenters Fellowship annual Frame event.

 

July 2010

• Robin Wood represents HCA at the Norfolk Show.
• Meeting with Sir Patrick Cormack.
• Unofficial meeting with Theresa May, Home Secretary, with follow-up information sent.
• Awarded £15,000 for two years from the Headley Trust for an administrator.
• Frank Hassard gives HCA presentation: Intangible Heritage - ideas, challenges, opportunities to heritage and culture conference with representatives from the Cameroons, UK, Saudi Arabia, USA and Estonia, to emphasise the importance of heritage craft to the new global ecology – for both human and environmental concerns.
• Robin Wood attends round table meeting organised by Radcliffe Trust to look at heritage and craft issues.

 

June 2010

• HCA at the Open Day at the Museum of English Rural Life with many of the committee demonstrating and talking to visitors.
• Robin Wood represents HCA at Glastonbury.
• Patricia Lovett gives HCA presentation at CCS Crafts Blueprint 'One Year On' conference.

 

May 2010

• Launch of map of craftspeople on the HCA website.

 

April 2010

• Follow-up leaflets and information sent to those attending the launch and forum, and other interested parties.
• HCA helps the last sieve and riddle maker find a successor, saving the craft from extinction.

 

March 2010

• The first forum of heritage craftspeople, keynote speech by Professor Ewan Clayton, and discussion groups, with results on the HCA website held at the V&A.
• Launch of HCA, with Phil Harding, TV presenter and flint knapper, at the V&A.
• Launch of HCA Friends' and Affiliated Groups Scheme.

 

January 2010

• Online HCA survey of craftspeople.

 

December 2009

• Charitable status granted.

 

November 2009

• Research into National Living Treasures/Craft Champions carried out for future action.

 

October 2009

• Meetings with Mick Elliot (DCMS, Director of Culture), Jeremy Hunt (Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport), Sir Patrick Cormack.

 

September 2009

• Dr Roy Brigden, Professor Ted Collins, Sir Mark Jones and Alex Langlands agree to be HCA Patrons.

 

August 2009 to January 2010

• Patricia Lovett, on behalf of HCA, wrote the National Occupation Standards for Craft with the Standards Officer at CCS.

 

July 2009

• Meetings with David Bell (NADFAS), Ben Bradshaw (Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport), Ed Vaizey (Shadow Minister for Culture), Mark Jones (V&A), National Trust, ICON, British Council and Royal Warrant Holders Association.

 

June 2009

• Crafts Blueprint launched by the Creative and Cultural Skills (CCS) sector council; Brian Crossley and Patricia Lovett attended as Blueprint committee members and Robin Wood as Chair of HCA.

 

April 2009

• Adjournment Debate in the House of Commons by Tom Levitt, MP for High Peak, on heritage craft, with a follow up meeting with the Minister for Culture, Barbara Follett.

 

March 2009

• Meetings with Lord Tony Young (Minister for Skills and Apprentices), Artworkers Guild, English Heritage, HLF, Arts Council England, Crafts Council and VAN.

• HCA website launched.
• Proposals for a suggested education outline for a craftworker.

 

February 2009

• Heritage Crafts Association established.