FAQs:
What is The Devon Guild of Craftsmen? The Devon Guild of Craftsmen is a leading national educational charity. It is also one of the UK’s most acclaimed exhibition and retail spaces for contemporary craft.
More about our vision and aims ('Looking Forward').
What is our mission? As an organisation we want to create as many opportunities as possible for you to enjoy and learn about contemporary craft. Whether you visit our exhibitions at Riverside Mill or one of our shows touring the country, experience learning with Big Hand, Little Hand, or visit our partner event The Contemporary Craft Fair - we are dedicated to one mission: creating the craftspeople and collectors for the future.
When did the Guild start up? In 1955 the Guild was founded by furniture-maker Edward Baly who lived in Devon and a group of enthusiastic people who wanted to promote the best in local craftwork. For many years the group worked together on hand-making and activities helping to sell original craft work - including the annual summer crafts exhibition, annual seminar and an autumn social. Riverside Mill in Bovey Tracey was purchased in 1986 and the Guild began employing professional staff to manage the newly registered charity. From an original membership of just 18 the Devon Guild of Craftsmen has now grown to a membership of over 240 of the finest makers in the South West, an Associate Members scheme for makers starting out plus over 400 supporters as Friends.
What does the ‘Guild’ part mean? The Guild is a traditionally a community of tradespeople offering mutual support and networking. Similar to today’s institutes or associations, the Guild offers support as a membership organisation based around shared skills and to ensure quality of output in the region.
Who can apply today? Applications can be made by all craftspeople based in the South West region (Devon, Dorset, Cornwall, Somerset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Bristol and Bath). Selections take place throughout the year. The Devon Guild currently has over 250 Members who exhibit and sell at the premises and are given advice, support, networking and professional development opportunities. People can also be Associate Members or Friends for a small yearly sum and have discounts, special events and other benefits.
What else does the Guild do? The Devon Guild puts on exhibitions, events in the café, talks and workshops for adults and children - all focused on creative making and different craft forms: from pottery and print to glassblowing or blacksmithing. Its main aim is to bring exciting new craft and design work to the South West and to enrich the region with visually inspiring experiences and learning activities focussing from the gallery outwards. Part of this enrichment is to promote the best regional crafts nationally and internationally.
What does the Devon Guild do for families? The venue is family-friendly and we have activities that encourage young people to interact with the exhibitions and think about how things made by hand are important to wider visual and practical skills. It is an education charity that runs Big Hand, Little Hand – a scheme where makers and artists go into South West schools and colleges. Here, hands-on workshops help young people have fun while learning about craft and design.
How many people visit? We had over 120,000 visitors in 2009 to the Guild gallery, shop and cafe (including all the exhibitions and events).
How accessible is it to visitors? Yes we are fully accessible to wheelchairs, people with limited mobility and babies. The building has a large lift, ramps and disabled parking by the side entrance.
What do we mean by ‘contemporary craft’? Many South West craftworkers have said they want to change the idea people have of craft being old-fashioned and twee. The Guild is committed to moving with the times and helping the creative community present and sell exciting, quality work that is original and uses new forms and mediums to challenge our ideas about creative process, art and functionality. By encouraging new, innovative ways of working, the Guild supports younger and aspiring makers who will enrich the region with their skills in the future.
What kind of exhibitions should we expect to see at the Devon Guild? The programme covers themed exhibitions such as narrative sculpture (Tall Stories), objects with a certain shape (CUP), or it can focus on a craft medium (enamel: Playing with Fire) or sustainable furniture design (Whole Life Cost). The aims of the exhibition programme is to keep people interested in how objects are designed and made in different mediums and show them the best standards of production and design as well as being accessible to all. What people will see will make them learn about how things are made and used and understand how cultures make and trade in today’s urban and rural environments.
Why does your gallery tour exhibitions? If our exhibitions go on tour to other galleries it gives the exhibitors an opportunity to promote themselves nationally outside the local area. The Guild can take exciting exhibiitons such as John Makepeace’s furniture design (2010-11) and all its learning activities - to places where different audiences can access them.
How is the Devon Guild funded? The organisation maintains its facilities and services through kind support from Arts Council England, Devon County Council and Teignbridge District Council. It is also sustained by our membership, sales of work the café income, commissions, charitable donations and one-off grants. We also have a Friends scheme for regular supporters.
We are a Registered charity no. 296568
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