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
Craft inspiration direct to your inbox
Become a Heritage Crafts Fan and receive a free monthly newsletter about craft announcements, events and opportunities.
Subscribe
#matchMAKER opportunity!
Pottery waxing and glazing assistant
Location: Belfast
Belfast Pottery Painting are seeking team members to join their waxing and glazing team. You will be responsible for finishing customers` pottery pieces, including prepping, waxing, glazing, and helping load and unload the kiln. You wil also assist with collections, basic studio upkeep, and customer service as needed. Full training will be provided.
Visit #matchMAKER via the linktr.ee in our bio to find out more.
#matchMAKER is the online platform for work-based training and entry-level employment opportunities hosted by @heritagecrafts and supported by @soanebritain.
Over 36 posts we are profiling the recipients of our recent round of training bursaries.
Mary King, from Worcestershire, who served as a driver in the Royal Navy, is a skilled woodturner looking to transition into leatherworking after a recent above-knee amputation. Her bursary will fund a range of courses, including pattern cutting and an introduction to leatherworking, to develop the skills to make and sell dog collars and harnesses.
Mary’s bursary is funded by the Royal British Legion.
Mary said: “This funding will make it possible for me to explore and learn a useful craft. I’m hoping to be able to progress with leatherwork and a change in direction.”
📷 Jo Heard
This week’s #craftfocus is #dyeing
Dyeing is the addition of colour to fibres, yarns and cloth, specifically with natural dyes from either plants or animals, or synthetically produced materials.
Natural dyeing techniques are relatively simple – the skill lies in knowledge and experience built up over time and through experimentation, including:
-Wide knowledge of plant material and insect dyes
-Knowledge of scouring/cleaning fibre and cloth
-Knowledge of good mordanting and the different effects of different mordants
-Knowledge of modifiers and how these can affect colour
-Preparation of dyestuff and vats
-Knowledge of recipes, experimentation and record keeping
-Knowledge of environmental law and gathering material from the wild
Dyeing is classified as viable on our Craft Inventory, however, threats to its viability include training and recruitment issues; there is no recognised qualification and while many courses are available, it can be hard for prospective students to assess their quality. There is also a lack of awareness of the dyeing process, as people tend to focus on finished products.
Natural dyeing is time-consuming and raw materials can be expensive. Many dyers are practising to a high standard but it is difficult to earn a living from the craft.
Images: Karen Morgan @tirglascymru and Jo Southall @jboccytherapy
#heritagecrafts #craftfocus #dyeing
#matchMAKER opportunity!
Bench Hand (Carpentry) Apprentice
Deadline:16 November 2025
Location:East Midlands
AJB Woodworking Ltd are seeking a Bench Hand carpentry apprentice. Established in 1999, the AJB Group specialises in the design and manufacture of high-quality joinery, fire door sets and panels.
What you will learn:
-Assembling doors, bifold, garage doors, front doors, windows and door frames, using dowels, staples and adhesives.
-Working in the refit department where you will gain experience of glazing apertures for various joinery products. This also includes working on window frame, door frame, or glazing bar and, associated ironmongery and Intumescent (sealed) grooves.
-Using an abrasive disc to remove the sharp, cut edges of frames and sanding items using hand sanding machines.
-Working to drawings and cutting list, checking sizes and working to standard operating procedures (SOP)
-Working to company 5 drivers and also learning the company policies and procedures.
Visit #matchMAKER via the linktr.ee in our bio to find out more.
This week’s #mondaymaker is Gary Woodhouse – a bicycle frame maker.
Gary completed a welding course over one year after leaving school and then worked at the workshop of Brian Curtis (a motorbike business owner who also made bicycles), prepping all the tubing for frames. 45 years later, Gary is still making bikes, and owned and ran Curtis bikes for 30 years. He most enjoys finishing the bikes off; putting on the decals, attaching the head badge, and making sure the bikes are as perfect as possible before wrapping and boxing them.
If you want to read an exclusive interview about Gary’s work, become a member of Heritage Crafts and learn more in the members portal: https://www.heritagecrafts.org.uk/join-us/
#heritagecrafts #mondaymaker #bicycleframemaking
Heritage Crafts Awards 2025 finalists announced
Following a strong year full of high-quality nominations, the finalists for this year’s Heritage Crafts Awards, supported by the @kingcharlesfund, @royalmintuk, Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation, @marshawards, @costume_society, William Grant Foundation, @silverliningfurniture, @theleathersellers, @house_of_sonnaz, @roseuniacke, Broderers’ Company, @lucyloo37 and @qestcraft have been announced. The winners will be revealed at the Winner’s Reception at @wentworth_woodhouse on 17 November. Good luck all!
The finalists are (in alphabetical order):
Patron’s Award for Endangered Crafts
• @1882ltd
• @plainstitchdeb
• @sailmaker_shiner
Precious Metalworker of the Year
• @angela_cork
• @alicefryjewellery
• @goldpolisher
Fashion Textile Maker of the Year
• @rachelfrosthatter
• @taffledthreads
• chloesavageembroidery
England Maker of the Year
• @angela_cork
• @flohamer
• @razwanartist
Northern Ireland Maker of the Year
• @bcs_plastermoulding_71
• @karenhamiltontextiles
• @deborahwhite7481
Scotland Maker of the Year
• @themarchmontworkshop
• @rachelfrosthatter
• @sailmaker_shiner
Wales Maker of the Year
• @hiraeth_y_goedwig
• @billieirelandart
• @alanjones3464
Lifetime Achievement Award
• @goldpolisher
• Mick Gregory @soanebritain
• @jims_shoeworkshop
Trainer of the Year
• @sarahcantmillinery
• @carringtonlime
• @garethrees75
Trainee of the Year
• @ash.appadu
• @tbw.glass
• @b.w.blacksmithing
Community Catalyst of the Year
• @lauren_broxton
• @aliceburnhope
• @razwanartist
Emerging Leatherworker of the Year
• @ellaboucht
• @_anadelrio
• Maisie Hill @silverliningfurniture
Emerging Upholsterer of the Year
• @pucciupholstery
• @elinorlang
• @whitebarnupholstery
Emerging Weaver of the Year
• @caitbinksart
• @leonie.textiles
• @kittywilsonbrownart
Emerging Embroiderer of the Year
• @soyasophie
• @_katerinaknight
• @alicelong.studio
Emerging Metalworker of the Year
• @bcs_plastermoulding_71
• @rebeccaoldfieldjewellery
• @b.w.blacksmithing
Environmental Sustainability Award
• Finalists to be revealed
#matchMAKER opportunity!
Trainee stonemason (3 places)
Deadline: 27 November 2025
Location: Wales
Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service, is hiring three trainee stonemasons. Cadw conserves Wales’s heritage to the best possible standard and help to sustain the distinctive character of Welsh landscapes and towns. Primary functions are to undertake stone masonry conservation works, cyclical and reactive maintenance and presentation works at Cadw’s sites and monuments within a geographical area. Posts are available on a fixed term contract lasting two years.
Visit #matchMAKER via the linktr.ee in our bio to find out more.
#matchMAKER is the online platform for work-based training and entry-level employment opportunities hosted by @heritagecrafts and supported by @soanebritain.
#matchMAKER opportunity!
Upholstery apprentice
Deadline: 5 November 2025
Location: Norfolk
Coakley & Cox Ltd are recruiting an upholstery apprentice. Specialising in the design and production of contemporary upholstery pieces, they produce for high-end furniture brands as well as working directly with architects, interior designers and contract furniture specifiers to create bespoke pieces for individual projects. They also offer a re-upholstery service which is available for both contemporary and classic pieces.
Required skills:
-Attention to detail
-Organisation skills
-Presentation skills
-Team working
-Creative
-Initiative
You can share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience, as the apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Visit #matchMAKER via the linktr.ee in our bio to find out more.
#matchMAKER is the online platform for work-based training and entry-level employment opportunities hosted by @heritagecrafts and supported by @soanebritain.
