ARTEFACT 2022: Conversations In Craft
Curated to engage and inspire, get top level insights from renowned experts and the craft industry’s leading lights.
Proceeds from Conversations in Craft tickets will be donated to the DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.
Tuesday 10 May, 11am – 11.45am
MATERIAL LIVES
Speakers: Sean Sutcliffe, co-founder Benchmark; Richard McVetis, artist and hand embroiderer; Juliette Bigley, artist-metalsmith
Chair: Grant Gibson
An artist, sculptor and designer each discuss how and why they alighted upon the materials that shaped their lives and careers.
Book ticket: £10
Tuesday 10 May, 3PM – 3.45PM
SATIRE AND CERAMICS
Speaker: Barnaby Barford
Chair: Grant Gibson
Barnaby Barford initially came to prominence with satirical ceramic pieces that turned a mirror on to contemporary society. Over the years, his practice has become increasingly difficult to define as he works across drawing, sculpture, film, installation and painting. However, more often than not, he returns to clay.
Book ticket: £10
Wednesday 11 May, 11am – 11.45am
GLASS ACTS
TALK, First Floor, Design Centre East
Speakers: Jahday Ford, Louis Thompson, Lena Bergstrom and Lulu Harrison
Chair: Grant Gibson
To celebrate the UN International Year of Glass, a quartet of glass artists, at different stages of their careers, discuss their respective practices and the reasons they find the material so alluring.
Book ticket: £10
WEDNESDAY 11 MAY, 3pm – 3.45pm
PROSE AND POTS
TALK, First Floor, Design Centre East
Speaker: Julian Stair
Chair: Grant Gibson
Julian Stair is a potter and historian, who was awarded an OBE in the New Year’s Honours List for services to ceramics. He discusses his practice with Grant Gibson, host of award-winning podcast Material Matters.
Book ticket: £10
Thursday 12 May, 11am – 11.45am
RADICAL CRAFT
TALK, First Floor, Design Centre East
Speakers: Celia Pym, knitting, darning and textile artist; Jane Marriott, trust director of Harewood House; Alice Kettle, textile artist; Jay Mistry, handbuilt sculptural activist
Chair: Grant Gibson
How is the craft world responding to some of the world’s most pressing issues – such as the pandemic, the Black Lives Matters movement, globalisation, and climate change? In this talk we meet craft makers and curators whose work reflects on our current state of flux.
Book ticket: £10
Thursday 12 May, 3pm – 3.45pm
HANDMADE INTERIORS
TALK, First Floor, Design Centre East
Speakers: Juliana Cavaliero, co-founder Cavaliero Finn; Ptolemy Mann, artist and designer, Jo Le Gleud, co-founder Maddux Creative
Chair: Grant Gibson
Interior designers are becoming increasingly keen to work with makers on schemes. But why? And is this fascination with craft anything more than a passing fad?
Book ticket: £10
FRIDAY 13 MAY, 11AM
PAST AND PRESENT
TALK, First Floor, Design Centre East
Speakers: Deborah Pocock, CEO of Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST); Mary Lewis, endangered crafts manager, Heritage Crafts Association; Debika Ray, acting editor, Crafts; Chris Eckersley, artist, designer and co-founder of Bodging Milano
Chair: Grant Gibson
As the world becomes increasingly digital are we in danger of losing traditional hand skills? And, if we are, does it really matter?
Book ticket: £10
SATURDAY 14 MAY, 11AM – 11.45AM
WOOLY THINKING
Design Restaurant by Social Pantry, Ground Floor, Design Avenue
Speaker: Freddie Robbins
Chair: Grant Gibson
The common perception of knitting is that it’s a gentle, mindful activity. A thing you can do quietly in front of the television to relax after a hard day. Freddie Robins’ work is the antithesis of all that. It’s frequently dark, often witty, and always provocative, challenging the perceived hierarchy of art and craft.
Book ticket: £10
SUNDAY 15 MAY, 11.30AM – 12.15PM
THE FUTURE OF CRAFT
Ground Floor, North Dome
Speakers: Bryony Applegate, Helen Brough, Jemma Gunning, Laura Thomas
and Kate Rochester
Chair: Grant Gibson
In a series of short, sharp presentations, a string of QEST Scholars discuss their practices and give us a tantalising glimpse at the future of British craft.
This event is free of charge to attend.
