Craft status
The Heritage Crafts Red List
Drawing on the conservation status system used by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List and the Rare Breeds Survival Trust Watchlist, Heritage Crafts uses a system of four categories of risk to assess the viability of heritage crafts. A heritage craft is considered to be viable if there are sufficient craftspeople to transmit the craft skills to the next generation.
Extinct in the UK
Crafts classified as ‘extirpated’ or ‘locally extinct’ are those which are no longer practised in the UK. For the purposes of this research, this category only includes crafts which have become extinct in the past generation.
Critically Endangered
Crafts classified as ‘critically endangered’ are those at serious risk of no longer being practised in the UK. They may include crafts with a shrinking base of craftspeople, crafts with limited training opportunities, crafts with low financial viability, or crafts where there is no mechanism to pass on the skills and knowledge.
Endangered
Crafts classified as ‘endangered’ are those which currently have sufficient craftspeople to transmit the craft skills to the next generation, but for which there are serious concerns about their ongoing viability. This may include crafts with a shrinking market share, an ageing demographic or crafts with a declining number of practitioners.
Currently Viable Crafts
Crafts classified as ‘currently viable’ are those which are in a healthy state and have sufficient craftspeople to transmit the craft skills to the next generation. They may include crafts with a large market share, widely popular crafts, or crafts with a strong local presence. A classification of ‘currently viable’ does not mean that the craft is risk-free or without issues affecting its future sustainability/viability.
Heritage Crafts Inventory
The 2025 edition of the Red List of Endangered Crafts marks a significant evolution in how we understand and safeguard traditional crafts.
This year, we introduce the Heritage Craft Inventory – a new, inclusive framework that ensures all heritage crafts, regardless of their current status, have a place where they are recognised and valued under one umbrella. This expanded approach allows us to shine a light not only on endangered and critically endangered crafts, but also on those that are resurgent, culturally distinctive, or rooted in specific communities and regions. It reflects the dynamic landscape of craft today – one that is constantly evolving and shaped by both challenges and opportunities.
Culturally distinctive crafts
Crafts designated as ‘culturally distinctive’ might have a broad uptake across the UK, but hold a particular significance for a defined community of practice, whether that is geographic, cultural, ethnic or religious. Those that are also on the Red List are known as ‘crafts in need of cultural safeguarding’.
- Canal art and boat painting (craft for cultural safeguarding)
- Cornish hedging (craft for cultural safeguarding)
- Fair Isle Knitting
- Fair Isle straw back chair making (craft for cultural safeguarding)
- Fairground art (craft for cultural safeguarding)
- Gansey knitting
- Harris tweed weaving
- Islamic calligraphy
- Northern Isles basket making (craft for cultural safeguarding)
- Orkney chair making (craft for cultural safeguarding)
- Petrakivka (craft for cultural safeguarding)
- Pysanky (craft for cultural safeguarding)
- Sgian dubh and dirk making (craft for cultural safeguarding)
- Shetland lace knitting
- Shinty caman making
- Sofrut calligraphy
- Sporran making (craft for cultural safeguarding)
- Thatching (Irish vernacular) (craft for cultural safeguarding)
- Thatching (Scottish vernacular) (craft for cultural safeguarding)
- Thatching (Welsh vernacular) (craft for cultural safeguarding)
- Vardo and living wagon crafts (craft for cultural safeguarding)
- Welsh double cloth weaving (craft for cultural safeguarding)
Resurgent crafts
Crafts designated as ‘resurgent’ are currently experiencing a positive trajectory as a result of an upswing in new entrants. Just because a craft is considered resurgent does not mean that it cannot also be endangered, but rather that its decline has started to reverse and that its situation is likely to continue improving.
Latest Red List stories
Craft skills remain under threat with 20 new additions to the Red List of Endangered Crafts
Nine more grants to help save endangered crafts
Craft skills under threat with 17 additions to the Red List of Endangered Crafts
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Calling all aspiring saddle makers, side saddle makers, bridle makers, harness makers and collar makers! 🐎
Are you looking to master your craft, refine your skills, or undertake specialist training, yet can’t afford to get the skills training you need? We want to hear from you.
Applications for our 2026 training bursaries supported by the @saddlerscompany.saddlershall are closing on Friday 30 March.
Don’t miss the chance to take your skills to the next level. Funding is limited, so prepare your application early!
Linktr.ee in bio to apply or directly at https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/bursaries/saddlery-bursary/
#matchMAKER opportunity!
Willow weaver
Location: Suffolk
Deadline: 4 March 2026
Heritage Willow @heritagewillow are a small group of talented, traditional weavers who specialise in constructing continuous willow fences. Due to continued growth in demand for their work, they are expanding their weaving team this Spring by recruiting a willow weaver (either full time or part time).
No prior experience is necessary, as full training will be provided, though the successful candidate will need to be:
-Resilient and hard working.
-Reliable and a team player.
-Happy working outdoors in all weathers.
-Practical and good with their hands.
-Have excellent attention to detail.
-Positive, polite and professional.
Heritage Willow is based in Suffolk, with their farm HQ near Debenham. The majority of their work sites are local, between Ipswich, Norwich and the East Anglian Coast. This role would suit somebody within this area who can drive and has access to their own car. Occasionally, work is taken on across the country and there would be an expectation that you would participate in these projects which involve travel and overnight stays.
This is physically demanding but rewarding and creative work using traditional weaving techniques to build bespoke, beautiful willow fencing.
The role will be for an initial 6-month period with the potential for a long-term position thereafter.
Find out 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.
#matchMAKER opportunity!
Trainee pointe shoe maker
Location: Leicester
The Suffolk Pointe Shoe Company are recruiting for a trainee pointe shoe maker. You will receive full hands-on training and the chance to master a unique craft and contribute to world-class ballet pointe shoes.
What you will do:
-Learning and applying each step of the shoe-making process.
-Working at your own workstation, using traditional methods.
-Using hand tools such as hammers, scissors, brushes, and knives.
-Handling tacks, adhesives, and shoe lasts (foot forms).
-Reading and following order tickets accurately.
-Meeting quality and production targets in a fast-paced environment
Find out 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.
Ready to take your stained glass skills to the next level? 🎨✨
Heritage Crafts in partnership with the British Society of Master Glass Painters @bsmgp, is now accepting applications for training bursaries of up to £4,000 in our craft-specific round!
Whether you are a newcomer looking to break into the industry or an early-career maker facing financial hurdles, this bursary is designed to help you gain the skills of stained glass making, painting, and conservation.
👉 Apply now via the linktr.ee in our bio or directly at https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/bursaries/stained-glass-bursary/
Deadline: 5pm, Friday 30 March.
#stainedglass #heritagecrafts #glasspainting #creativecareers #UKcrafts
Over three posts we are profiling three additional recipients of our recent round of training bursaries.
Kelsey Moray Luke @wearemorayluke, from South Wales, taught herself leatherworking during the pandemic, using her newfound skills of cutting, shaping, stitching and finishing to launch her own accessories brand using sustainable materials such as fish leather. Her bursary is funding training with Toby Thomas of @ottely bespoke leatherwork studio, focusing on advanced appliqué techniques using leather waste.
Kelsey’s bursary is supported by @heritagefunduk and made possible by players of the National Lottery.
Kelsey said: “I find leatherwork quite intensive and so I wish to utilise stamping as a technique that will be easier on my joints (more ergonomic). Whilst my fish leather products are amazing, I have to get outside help, so acquiring this technique will allow me to do everything in house.”
This week’s #mondaymaker is Susan Green @boundbyhand – a bookbinder.
Susan has made books for over sixteen years for individuals, venues, brands and charities all over the world. Focusing on natural materials, archival bindings and simplicity of design, she creates books which are pleasurable to use, enjoyable to own, extremely functional, and above all, designed and bound by hand to last a lifetime. Susan has also taught other learners and enjoys mentoring creatives who wish to expand their practice.
View Susan’s full profile on our maker’s directory: https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/maker/boundbyhand/
#heritagecrafts #mondaymaker #bookbinding
Calling all aspiring riggers, fender makers, rope makers and net makers! ⚓
Are you looking to master your craft, refine your skills, or undertake specialist training, yet can’t afford to get the skills training you need? We want to hear from you.
Applications for our 2026 training bursaries supported by the International Guild of Knot Tyers are closing on Friday 30 March.
Applications can include rope and twine crafts related to either the sea and inland waterways.
Don’t miss the chance to take your craftsmanship to the next level. Funding is limited, so prepare your application early!
Linktr.ee in bio to apply or directly at https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/our-stories/announcements/maritime-rope-and-twine-bursary/
Over three posts we are profiling three additional recipients of our recent round of training bursaries.
Megan Lovell @megs.home.work, from the West Midlands, has been working in natural building and decorating since 2022, but has found it difficult to access opportunities to build her skills and portfolio whilst sustaining herself financially. Her bursary will fund training in lime and tadelakt plastering on a live project with Zachary Small from the Alliance of Green Builders.
Megan’s bursary is supported by @heritagefunduk and made possible by players of the National Lottery.
Megan said: “I’m over the moon to receive funding to hone my craft, learn to experiment with materials and explore the interplay between sculptural craft and decorative finish.”
