5,944 miles is the distance, as the crow flies, from Bangkok to Edinburgh. It is the distance Pat and Kom of 141 Social Enterprise were due to travel in spring 2020 as part of their research trip to the UK to visit craft and making social enterprises.

Long-time colleagues of Applied Arts Scotland via our Crafting Futures work with the British Council Thailand, we were very much looking forward to welcoming Pat and Kom to Scotland and introducing them to makers, craftspeople, studios, venues, exhibitions and more.

Of course, plans changed! Whilst the pandemic halted travel, it did not stop creativity or the making community.

Active members of Bangkok’s craft and making community, 141 Social Enterprise design and make by hand sustainable products and toys enabling children to learn from slow-play, develop creative skills and connect with nature.

We were delighted to collaborate with 141 to present 5,944 Miles Share, a series of four informal Facebook Live events from July to September 2021.

Watch recordings of the online events, each featuring a maker from Thailand and an AAS Member who contributed a Voices of Makers blog, generously sharing and chatting about their creative practices and lockdown experiences.

Anunta Intra-aksorn at People Forest +
Claire Heminsley at Incahoots
28 July 2021

Supatra & Supaluk Sornbunchong at It Takes Two To Tango +
Jo Garner
11 August 2021

Prach Niyomkar at Mann Craft +
Fran Marquis
18 August 2021

Pilan Thaisuang at Bhukram +
Lorna Brown at Blessed Unrest
1 September 2021

VOICES OF MAKERS

The 5,944 Miles Share event series drew on our Voices of Makers blog series, in which makers and Applied Arts Scotland Members were invited to share how they were rethinking their rhythms, working patterns, things they were doing, useful information and tips with fellow makers. You can read Lorna, Jo, Fran and Claire’s Voices of Makers blogs and discover more from our making community.