The annual celebration of cutting-edge design and beautiful craftsmanship which makes up the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair (GNCCF) will take place at Old Granada Studios in Manchester from 6-9 October 2016.
This award-winning not-for-profit event, the largest in the North, will bring together over 160 of the UK’s most talented designer-makers, real-time making and an exhibition of museum-quality contemporary craft to offer visitors a unique experience.
Now in its ninth year, the GNCCF is supported by Arts Council England with the aim of championing and promoting contemporary craft and designer-makers. This carefully curated event will delight everyone from those looking to buy the beautiful and unique direct from the hand that made it, to those wanting to see work by critically-acclaimed artists in the Ornament exhibition.
All of the designer-makers taking part have been selected by an independent panel for their excellence, with interior and fashion textiles, glass, jewellery, ceramics, metalwork, furniture, print-making and more on show at the event. As well as emerging and established makers, the curated Great Northern Graduates will showcase best new design talent selected from the region’s degree shows.
This vibrant event will also bring craft alive through Craftworks – a programme of workshops, pop-up studios and talks by leading designer-makers enabling visitors to learn about the inspiration, materials, making process and stories behind the work of these passionate artists and makers. Celebrated ceramicist Zoe Lloyd will make new work under the gaze of show visitors as the GNCCF’s Artist in Residence and mixed media artist Harriet Lawton will return as Installation Artist to share the artwork she created with help of visitors as part of the event last year.
For those wanting to experience the pinnacle of contemporary craft, the Ornament exhibition returns for its third year. This selling exhibition is freshly curated each year, bringing together critically-acclaimed makers, some of whom can be found in the craft collections of the museums and galleries of the North. Curator Michelle Keeling will work with artists, North West museums, galleries and universities to select work from some of the UK’s most critically acclaimed makers and bring it to Manchester for this four-day exhibition.
The GNCCF plays a vital role in championing and promoting contemporary craft and designer-makers at all levels. This is a great opportunity to meet the makers and hear about their work.
Previous Ornament exhibitors include ceramicists Jin Eui Kim, Kate Malone, Walter Keeler and Paul Scott, metalsmith Junko Mori, glassmakers Angela Jarman and Bob Crooks and textile artists Alice Kettle, Michael Brennand-Wood and Caroline Broadhead.
Angela Mann and Ann-Marie Franey founded the GNCCF in 2008. Ann-Marie said: “There is something extremely powerful about bringing so many talented people who design and make the beautiful and unique under one roof, and we feel very privileged to work with them to put on such a fantastic and inspiring event. Over 40 per cent of this year’s designer-makers are exhibiting with us for the first time so there will be lots for regular and new visitors to discover, as well as new work from established makers.”
Angela Mann said: “The GNCCF plays a vital role in championing and promoting contemporary craft and designer-makers at all levels. This is a great opportunity to meet the makers and hear about their work. With features such as Craftworks, visitors can engage in craft as it happens and learn about process and inspiration.”
The event will commence with a special preview evening on Thursday 6 October from 6pm-9.30pm. Following the preview, the GNCCF and the Ornament exhibition will then be open to the public from 10am on Friday 7 October to Sunday 9 October.
Ticket prices: In advance. £6.50 (£5.50 concession) / On the door £7.50 (£6.50 concession) / Preview £12 on the door, £10 in advance.
Advance tickets available via Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-great-northern-contemporary-craft-fair-2016-tickets-26986143281?aff=erelexpmlt
For further information on the show, visit www.greatnorthernevents.co.uk , Facebook www.facebook.com/GNCCF and Twitter @GNCCF
