A voice for craft
The national charity for heritage craft skills
Supporting craft heritage
We are the national charity set up to celebrate, support and safeguard traditional craft skills, and to facilitate a national conversation about their importance to everyone now and in the future.
We are passionate about ensuring that everyone has access to craft skills that have developed over generations, and which we believe will be vital in helping us tackle the challenges of the future – and to be able to enjoy making as part of a fulfilled life.
Our Patron is His Majesty King Charles III.
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Sally Pointer in Conversation
Seven more grants to help save endangered crafts
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Heritage Crafts was set up just fifteen years ago. Since then it has gone from strength to strength, advocating at the highest levels for crafts, publishing the Red List of Endangered Crafts, and distributing 95 grants through the Endangered Crafts Fund. We have awarded 131 training bursaries, established the Heritage Crafts Awards and shone a spotlight on our world-renowned makers through 33 National Honours successes.
Many more people are now aware of traditional crafts and the objects produced by those who carry in their hands, heads, and also hearts the skills and techniques that have been passed down through the generations.
To continue this work we need your support. Please consider making a donation, however big or small, to help ensure that heritage craft skills in the UK are given the opportunity to thrive.
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Do you know a master craftsperson whose dedication has stood the test of time? 🧶✂️🪚
The Lifetime Achievement award, supported by @marshawards, recognises a heritage craftsperson who has demonstrated an outstanding contribution to their specific craft over 25 years or more.
It celebrates a lifetime’s dedication to a particular traditional skill, resulting in a practitioner operating at the highest level, having made a significant impact on the continued high-esteem in which their craft is held.
🏆 The prize
The winner will receive a £1,000 cash prize and will be celebrated at a high-profile Winners’ Reception in November 2026. We will also award a Trainer of the Year and Maker of the Year Awards, each with prizes of £1,000 provided by the Marsh Charitable Trust and others.
📅 Deadline: Friday 21 August 2026 (at 5pm)
➡️ Nominate someone (or yourself) today via the linktr.ee in our bio or directly at https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/our-awards/lifetime-achievement-award/
📷 2025 finalist Mick Gregory @soanebritain
#heritagecrafts #traditionalcraft #heritagecraftsawards #lifetimeachievement
#matchMAKER opportunity!
Apprentice Craft Technician: Ceramics
Location: Stoke-On-Trent
Emma Bridgewater makes lovely, useful things that help capture moments of joy. From a favourite mug to a well-loved plate or bowl, the pieces they create become part of everyday life and the stories people tell.
The vacancy is for an Apprentice Craft Technician: Ceramics. This is a hands-on role working within an active ceramics factory. The successful applicant will be trained across many aspects of pottery/ceramics production, including:
• Learning and understanding materials
• Design and production techniques
• Finishing and packaging of goods
You will also be placed on a Level 3 Craft Technician: Ceramics apprenticeship. You will be required to attend training with Creative Alliance and partner organisations throughout the 18 months of the course. Successful completion of the programme is expected to lead to the opportunity for a permanent role, offering long-term career progression within the organisation.
Find out more including how to apply at https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/matchmaker.
#matchMAKER is the online platform for work-based training and entry-level employment opportunities hosted by @heritagecrafts and supported by @soanebritain.
📣 Come and work for us! We are currently seeking a new Membership Officer (0.8 FTE, working from home). 🧶💻
⏰ Deadline: Friday 17 April 2026, 5pm
Heritage Crafts is the national charity set up to support, safeguard and celebrate traditional craft skills across the UK. We are seeking an enthusiastic, self-motivated and highly organised Membership Officer to join our small but dedicated team.
This is a critical role where you will act as the face of the organisation for our members, growing our community of makers and enthusiasts, and ensuring they receive an exceptional experience. Through managing our Makers Directory, sending regular communications, and coordinating real-world events and online communities, your work will directly contribute to the sustainability of the UK’s most precious heritage skills.
If you are a brilliant communicator with a flair for administration and a passion for craft, we would love to receive your application.
⬇️ Download the application pack at https://www.heritagecrafts.org.uk/vacancies/ or via the linktr.ee in our bio.
📋 Shortlisting will be based on the application form alone – CVs will not be accepted.
This week’s #craftfocus is silk ribbon making.
Coventry was the main centre of ribbon production in England from the early 1700s to the 1860s. During this period about half its population made a living from ribbon weaving.
Silk ribbons are now specialist products for a variety of markets including medal ribbons (military, sports etc) and costume (film, TV and increasingly re-enactment). Menswear (braces) is also a key market and would have been one of the original uses for narrow weaving.
Ribbons are usually made on a narrow loom. These can range from historic jacquard looms to modern computerised looms. Toye, Kenning & Spencer use a punch card jacquard loom dating back to 1801 for making ceremonial ribbons as well as modern mechanised looms. At Whitchurch Silk Mill ribbons are woven on a broadloom and cut into ribbons.
Silk ribbon making is classified as critically endangered on our Red List of Endangered Crafts. Threats to the craft include the fact that looms require a substantial footprint, with affordable premises difficult to find. Machinery is very expensive and there is very little available second hand, so the cost of entry is very high. With far fewer haberdashery shops, silk ribbons are a niche market and have to compete with cheaper synthetic imports.
https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/craft/silk-ribbon-making/
Images: Robert Ely @papilionaceouspuresilk
#heritagecrafts #craftfocus #silkribbonmaking #ribbonweaving
Weaving is one of our most fundamental craft practices, and we are looking to celebrate the next generation of talent leading it into the future. We are thrilled to announce that nominations are now OPEN for the Emerging Weaver of the Year Award 2026 supported by @roseuniacke.
✨ Who are we looking for?
This award celebrates an early-career heritage craftsperson (in the first five years of their professional practice) who has made an outstanding start to their weaving career. We are looking for a maker who:
• Demonstrates a high level of technical skill.
• Raises the profile of weaving through sharing what they do.
• Shows the grit and dedication to achieve long-term success.
🏆 The Prize
The winner will receive a £1,000 cash prize and will be celebrated at a high-profile Winners’ Reception in November 2026. Plus, we are also running similar awards in crafts, such as embroidery and upholstery, with additional prizes of £1,000 provided by the Broderers’ Company, House of Sonnaz and others.
📅 Deadline: Friday 21 August 2026 (at 5pm)
➡️ Nominate someone (or yourself) today via the linktr.ee in our bio or directly at https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/our-awards/emerging-weaver-of-the-year/.
📷 2025 winner @leonie.textiles
#heritagecrafts #weaving #textiles #handwoven #heritagecraftsawards
#matchMAKER opportunity!
Trainee Memorial Mason
Location: Blaydon, Gateshead
Joseph Richmond & Sons is a respected family business established in 1979. Specialising in handcrafted memorials and known for their bespoke designs, care, craftsmanship and personal service. As their business continues to grow, they are looking for a dedicated Trainee Memorial Mason to join their close-knit team and learn a meaningful, skilled trade.
In the role of Trainee Memorial Mason, you will learn:
• All aspects of the craft, including working with stone using both traditional and modern techniques including engraving and decorative design
• Memorial installation and renovation.
• How to use workshop machinery and hand tools safely.
No previous experience required – just the right attitude.
Find out more including how to apply at https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/matchmaker.
#matchMAKER is the online platform for work-based training and entry-level employment opportunities hosted by @heritagecrafts and supported by @soanebritain.
Community catalysts are committed to widening access to heritage crafts, and their way of working creates a groundswell of enthusiasm that brings others along with them. If you have done something like this in the last 12 months, please consider applying for this year’s Community Catalyst of the Year Award, supported by @marshawards. Or if you know someone else who might deserve the award, why not nominate them?
🏆 The prize
The winner will receive a £1,000 cash prize and will be celebrated at a high-profile Winners’ Reception in November 2026. We will also award a Trainer of the Year, Trainee of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Award, each with prizes of £1,000 provided by the Marsh Charitable Trust.
📅 Deadline: Friday 21 August 2026 (at 5pm)
➡️ Nominate someone (or yourself) today via the linktr.ee in our bio or directly at https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/our-awards/community-catalyst-of-the-year/
📷 2025 winner @lauren_broxton
#heritagecrafts #traditionalcraft #heritagecraftsawards #communitycatalyst
This week’s #mondaymaker is Debbie Randall @ceramicsdr – ceramics maker.
Debbie graduated from Camberwell College of Arts in 1998 and has been passionately engaged in wheel-thrown ceramics ever since.
Her work, crafted from porcelain and smooth white stoneware, draws inspiration from the classic forms of Korea, China and Japan. In addition to creating one-of-a-kind sculptural pieces, she has collaborated on tableware commissions for both restaurants and private clients.
Additionally, Debbie offers personalised one-on-one throwing lessons for those interested in developing their skills.
View Debbie’s full profile on our Makers’ Directory: https://www.instagram.com/ceramicsdr/
#heritagecrafts #mondaymaker #ceramics #pottery
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