‘Identity, Collaboration, Sustainability:
an online, international festival of craft’
The international craft festival reflected and built on the three themes of identity, collaboration and sustainability which informed Applied Arts Scotland’s international craft exchange project. This comprised three international residencies bringing together makers from Mexico, Canada, Thailand and Scotland to experiment and create new work, culminating in the Meet Make Collaborate touring exhibition.
The practice of the international collaborating makers during and since their residencies, and the individual and collaborative works created and exhibited, form the basis of the festival, along with symposium papers which provoked and stimulated further discussion around the themes by asking an array of critical questions at convened panels.
The festival took place Monday 27 – Thursday 30 September 2021.
International Collaborating Makers
Insights into makers’ international collaborative residencies, exploration of themes and one another’s identity, environment, skills, materials and techniques through discussion, mentorship and experimentation, and impacts on their practices.
Meet Make Collaborate exhibition
International collaborating makers’ new individual and collaborative works exhibited and further explored in a talk by Simone Stewart, Head of Programme at The Barn, Banchory, a touring exhibition venue.
Old Stories, New Narratives symposium
In three panels, makers, curators, historians and researchers consider the future of making practices and process through sharing new ideas about craft practice, research and case studies concerning both maker-led and theoretical strategies and what these might have to offer in a global context.
Festival Programme
Use the ‘Watch’ buttons in the programme to view recordings in our dedicated Craft Festival 2021 Vimeo channel.
Monday 27 September 2021
‘Identity’
12:00-13:30 (BST) / 11:00-12:30 (UTC)
Makers’ Studio Visit /
Demonstration
Crafting Futures Mexico resident Fiona Hall, Camban Studio (Aberdeen) will introduce her work alongside her collaborators designer Dalila Cruz (Oaxaca) and weaver Soledad Ruizz Mendoza, Bii Dauu Collective (Oaxaca).
13:45-14:30 (BST) / 12:45-13:30 (UTC)
Makers’ Informal Discussion:
‘Identity’
SHIFT collaborators jeweller Kiersten Holden-Ada, Fervour’s Own (Halifax, Nova Scotia) & artist Louise Barrington (Orkney) are joined by multidisciplinary designer Pilar Obeso Sánchez (Mexico City) from the Crafting Futures Mexico residency.
Moderated by Katia Stewart, Global Programme Manager – Crafting Futures, British Council.
14:45-16:15 (BST) / 13:45-15:15 (UTC)
Symposium Panel:
‘Identity’
- Professor Juliette MacDonald, University of Edinburgh (Convenor)
- Magdalena Cattan Lavin, University of Edinburgh
- Susan Surette PhD, Ceramic Artist / Concordia University
- Arielle Walker, Artist / AUT University
Tuesday 28 September 2021
‘Collaboration’
12:00-13:30 (BST) / 11:00-12:30 (UTC)
Makers’ Studio Visit /
Demonstration
SHIFT collaborators, weaver Jennifer Green (Halifax, Nova Scotia) & basketmaker Sarah Paramor (Applecross).
13:45-14:30 (BST) / 12:45-13:30 (UTC)
Makers’ Informal Discussion: ‘Collaboration’
SHIFT collaborators, textile artist Andrea Tsang Jackson, 3rd Story Workshop (Halifax, Nova Scotia) & weaver Cally Booker (Dundee) with jeweller Mengnan Qu(Nova Scotia) & ceramicist Susan O’Byrne (Glasgow).
Moderated by Rebecca Hannon, Associate Professor, NSCAD University.
14:45-16:15 (BST) / 13:45-15:15 (UTC)
Symposium Panel:
‘Collaboration’
- Denis Longchamps, Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery (Convenor)
- Loucia Manopoulou, University for the Creative Arts & Mirka Golden-Hann, Wiltshire Creative
- Dr Kevin Murray, Garland Magazine / RMIT University
- Alison Welsh
Wednesday 29 September 2021
‘Sustainability’
12:00-13:30 (BST) / 11:00-12:30 (UTC)
Makers’ Studio Visit /
Demonstration
Crafting Futures Thailand collaborators, interdisciplinary designer Kawisara Anansaringkarn, Coth Studio (Thailand) & jeweller Stefanie Cheong (Glasgow).
13:45-14:30 (BST) / 12:45-13:30 (UTC)
Makers’ Informal Discussion:
‘Sustainability’
SHIFT collaborators jeweller Rebecca Hannon (Nova Scotia) & ceramic artist Carol Sinclair (Angus) are joined by festival partners Laura Ritchie, MSVU Art Gallery (Halifax, Nova Scotia) & Pamela Conacher, AAS (Scottish Highlands).
14:45-16:15 (BST) / 13:45-15:15 (UTC)
Symposium Panel:
‘Sustainability’
- Carol Sinclair, Chair, AAS (Convenor)
- Teresa Burrows, Craft Artist
- Maija Nygren, Almaborelais Ltd
- Dr Inge Panneels, Edinburgh Napier University & Dr Susan Lechelt, University of Edinburgh
Thursday 30 September 2021
‘Identity, Collaboration, Sustainability’
12:00-13:30 (BST) / 11:00-12:30 (UTC)
Makers’ Studio Visit /
Demonstration
Crafting Futures Thailand collaborators, designer Prach Niyomkar, Mann Craft (Sakon Nakhon) & weaver Lynne Hocking-Mennie (Aberdeen).
13:45-14:30 (BST) / 12:45-13:30 (UTC)
Meet Make Collaborate
Exhibition Talk
The Barn’s Simone Stewart, Head of Programme will describe how the organisation has re-centred itself around environmental awareness, connecting observations to AAS’s international makers residency programme and the exhibition.
Introduced by Lynne Hocking-Mennie, Vice Chair, AAS.
Part of the Barn’s Crafting Interconnections season.
14:45-16:15 (BST) / 13:45-15:15 (UTC)
The Dr Sandra Alfoldy Craft Institute Talk
‘Unsettling Canadian Art History: Materializing Settler Colonialism’, Professor Erin Morton, University of New Brunswick.
Introduced by Rebecca Hannon, Associate Professor, NSCAD University.
Identity, Collaboration, Sustainability: an online, international festival of craft is presented and funded by Applied Arts Scotland SCIO, Edinburgh College of Art, MSVU Art Gallery, and The Dr Sandra Alfoldy Craft Institute at NSCAD University. Funded by Creative Scotland and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
