The Folksy Summer School looked like a fab weekend of networking and talks, and lots of learnings for designers and makers. Held in Sheffield on 10 to 11 August 2013, I unfortunately couldn’t make it/afford it.
It took a holistic approach to making, recognising the business and marketing skills required to become noticed in the marketplace, as well as addressing the changing face of craft and its audience. The roll call of guest speakers looked ace and I’ll be doing some Googling to learn more about them and their businesses…
- John V. Willshire – Smithery
- Patricia van den Akker – The Design Trust
- Chloë Haywood – Hatastic
- Emma Jones – Enterprise Nation
- Keith Stephenson and Mark Hampshire – Mini Moderns
- Andy Poplar – Vinegar and Brown Paper
- Polly Dugdale – Handmade Horizons
- Victoria Woodcock – State of Craft
- Tilly Walnes – tilly & the buttons
- Claire Bates – Landbaby
- Angus Montgomery – Design Week
- Cecily Vessey – Cecily Vessey
- Nick Hand – Department of Small Works
- Emilie Taylor – Emilie Taylor
- James Green – James Green Printworks
- Sinead Koehler – Crafty Fox Market
- Clare Yuille – Indie Retail Academy
- Sarah Thelwall – My Cake
- Doug Richard – School for StartUps
- Marceline Smith – Asking For Trouble
- Lianne Mellor – Mellor Ware
- Tracy Ramsden & Marie-Claire Dorking – Skribe London
- Lara Watson – Mollie Makes
I think it’s great that the team at Folksy not only promote British craft through their retail website, but are concerned with their artists and the sustainability of the craft sector as a whole.
KJG that's me 