Crafts Centre of Great Britain explained

Defunct:1972
Type:Craft organisation
Purpose:The preservation, promotion and improvement of fine craftsmanship in Great Britain[1]
Headquarters:Berkeley Square, London (1950-1967)
Earlham Street, London (1967-1972)
Leader Name:John Farleigh, CBE
Crafts Centre of Great Britain
Region Served:United Kingdom

The Crafts Centre of Great Britain was established in 1948 with the purpose of “the preservation, promotion and improvement of fine craftsmanship in Great Britain.”[2] It created direct links between individual producers and industry,[3] and encouraged young people to take up crafts through education and instruction.[4] Prominent members included Bernard Leach, Lilian Dring and Tibor Reich.

History

In 1946 five societies – the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society, the Red Rose Guild of Craftsmen, the Senefelder Club, the Society of Scribes and Illuminators and the Society of Wood Engravers – met at the Central School of Arts and Crafts to discuss forming a Craft Centre of Great Britain.[5] The initial plan was to open an exhibition space at 98 Portland Place,[6] but after “struggling for three years on private funds” a government grant made it possible to open a space at 16 Hay Hill, Berkeley Square in 1950.[7] The centre was opened by the Queen on 16 August 1950, where she was presented with a silver spoon for her granddaughter, designed and made by Francis Cooper.[8] The centre was opened to the public on 27 April 1950.[9]
Became Contemporary Applied Arts in 1987.

Funding and finances

A significant benefit for craftspeople who were members of the Craft Centre of Great Britain was that they were exempted from purchase tax, which in 1948 was 66.66%.[10] [11]

In History of the Crafts Council (1994), Tanya Harrod observed that “the Crafts Centre had a chequered career, attributed in part to an ‘unwieldly quarrelsome council representing five interest groups’.”[12] The Craft Centre’s finances were always precarious. It was initially funded by a three-year government grant, to cover rent[13] and the hosting of exhibitions around the country.[14] [15] In 1953 the Craft Centre became a trading body as well as a showroom.[16] In 1962 the government removed the Craft Centre’s annual £5,000 grant.[17] In 1966 the Craft Centre received a £5,000 grant from the Board of Trade.[18] [19]

Venues

In 1950 an exhibition space was opened at Hay Hill, including an exhibition living room featuring a rotation of members’ designs, together with a space for individual crafts. The centre also offered education and instruction.[20] [21] In 1967, the exhibition space moved to 43 Earlham Street, London.[22] In 1970 Viscount Weymouth, heir to the Marquess of Bath, converted a “pin-table saloon” at Longleat House, Wiltshire, into a shop for the Craft Centre of Great Britain. Longleat Gallery was designed by Alan Irvine and was the Craft Centre's only permanent location outside London. Its posters were designed by Derek Birdsall.[23] In the 1970s the Craft Centre also supported an arts fair held at Farnley Hall, West Yorkshire.[24] [25]

Key people

Crafts

The crafts supported by the Craft Centre included: bookbinding, calligraphy, domestic glass, embroidery, furniture, gold, jewellery, lace, lithography, pottery, silver, sun glass, textiles (printed and woven), typography and wood engraving.[29] The Craft Centre “insisted on original design”. It didn't include steel engraving, saddlery or gun making, which instead formed part of the Rural Industries Bureau.[30]

Exhibitions

The Craft Centre ran a continuous exhibition that shifted focus between different crafts throughout the year. A selection of exhibitions included:

YearCraft / ExhibitionArtists
March 1950[31] Opening exhibition
January 1951PotteryBernard Leach,[32] Margaret Leach[33]
September 1951GoldJoe Woodward[34]
November 1951[35] Calligraphy
January 1952[36] Harpsichords, spinets and clavichords
March 1952[37] PrintingMural showing 6,000 year history of the art of printing
April 1954[38] Furniture and potteryPaul Barron (potter), Hugh Birkett (furniture)[39]
October 1954[40] WeavingGerd Hay-Edie, Monica Blyth
January 1955[41] Glass engravingDavid Peace, Anthony Pope, Ernest Dinkel
May 1955[42] Jewellery
October 1955[43] The first touring exhibition to ScotlandCarl Dolmetsch, Leslie Ward, Leslie Durbin, Krystyna Henneberg, Kathleen Heron, Bernard Leach, Katharine Pleydell-Bouverie, Robert Stone
February 1956[44] An exhibition at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery
May 1956[45] Embroidery at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
August 1956[46] LithographsRobert Tavener, Charles Keeping[47]
October 1956[48] IllustrationsH M Adams, Edith Goodwin, Dorothy Hutton
December 1956[49] Christmas exhibitionEric Clements, Anthony Hawkesley, Alan Knight, Hugh Birkett, Edward Gardiner, Raymond Finch
April 1957[50] Today’s PatronEric Clements, David Peace
October 1958[51] British Fine Crafts, Belfast Art College AssociationBernard Leach, Sydney Cockerell, Leslie Runkin, Irene Wellington, John Farleigh, Roger Powell, Barbara Hutton, Gerd Hay-Edie
February 1960[52] Opened by Duke of Edinburgh, at RIBA headquartersGerald Benney, Francis Cooper, Robert Stone
June 1960[53] Under ThirtiesG D Robinson
December 1965[54] Christmas exhibitionOpened by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh; Derek Emms,[55] Mary Farmer
December 1966[56] Christmas exhibitionDerek Emms, Bernard Leach
January 1968[57] Exports: Detroit USA
February 1968[58] Skill at Goldsmith's HallIn collaboration with the Institute of Directors
February 1969[59] Scottish design and craftVisited by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother
February 1970[60] Jewellery and silverFiona Fraser
June 1970[61] Furniture Exhibition 1970Chester Jones
December 1971[62] Joint Christmas crafts shop at the Design Council

Members

Craft Centre of Great Britain members included:

Also: David Dewey (sculptor),[115] William Joyce (furniture maker)[116]

Merge with the Crafts Council of Great Britain

In 1970, the Crafts Centre was struggling financially, its government funding having been removed.[117] In 1972 the Crafts Centre merged with the Crafts Council of Great Britain to become the British Crafts Centre. Supported by a grant of £40,000 from the government's Crafts Advisory Committee (CAC), which had been established the previous year, the new organisation's offices were at Waterloo Place, London.[118] The Crafts Centre's Earlham Street gallery location was retained for “one-man shows and other special displays”.[119] In 1986 the organisation's name was changed to Contemporary Applied Arts, which remains active today.[120]

See also

Backemeyer, Sylvia Making their Mark: Art, Craft and Design at the Central School, 1896-1966 (2000) Pub. Herbert Press

Notes and References

  1. News: 1950-03-23 . The Scotsman . . Crafts centre . 6 . Edinburgh, UK .
  2. News: 1950-03-23 . The Scotsman . . Crafts centre . 6 . Edinburgh, UK .
  3. News: 1948-04-30 . Bayswater Chronicle . . We need this art . 4 . London, UK .
  4. News: 1949-04-29 . Portsmouth Evening News . . "The end" for craftsmen? . 5 . Portsmouth, UK .
  5. Book: Backemeyer, Sylvia . 2000 . Making their mark: art, craft and design at the Central School 1896-1966 . Herbert Press . London . 114 . 0713652616.
  6. News: 1948-04-30 . Bayswater Chronicle . . We need this art . 4 . London, UK .
  7. News: 1949-12-13 . Birmingham Daily Gazette . . Moving the centre . 4 . Birmingham, UK .
  8. News: 1950-09-02 . Illustrated London News . . Accepted by the Queen . 34 . London, UK .
  9. News: 1950-03-23 . The Scotsman . . Crafts centre . 6 . Edinburgh, UK .
  10. News: 1948-12-10 . The Scotsman . . Handloom weavers and purchase tax . 3 . Edinburgh, UK .
  11. News: 1948-10-29 . Stratford Upon Avon Herald . . Stratford Fashion Parade . 3 . Stratford Upon Avon, UK .
  12. Book: Backemeyer, Sylvia . 2000 . Making their mark: art, craft and design at the Central School 1896-1966 . Herbert Press . London . 114 . 0713652616.
  13. News: 1949-11-16 . Daily News (London) . . Crafts in Mayfair . 2 . London, UK .
  14. News: 1948-11-26 . Bury Free Press . . Christmas fair . 13 . Bury, UK .
  15. News: 1948-12-09 . Suffolk and Essex Free Press . . High standard was a surprise . 8 . Suffolk, UK .
  16. Web site: Contemporary Applied Arts (CAA) . . contemporaryartsociety.org . 2024-03-07.
  17. News: 1962-04-18 . The Scotsman . . Craft centre to lose grant . 12 . Edinburgh, UK .
  18. News: 1966-04-20 . Birmingham Daily Post . . Craft grants . 30 . Birmingham, UK .
  19. News: 1948-12-11 . Haverhill Echo . . Christmas Fair and Fine Arts Exhibition at Clare . 1 . Haverhill, UK .
  20. News: 1948-08-07 . The Sphere . Charles Graves . The call to the craftsmen . 28 . London, UK .
  21. News: 1951-09-15 . Birmingham Daily Gazette . . Golden Dollars . 4 . Birmingham, UK .
  22. News: 1967-10-06 . Kensington Post . . John Gander's art . 20 . London, UK .
  23. News: 1970-03-26 . Somerset Standard . Onlooker . Making way for arts and crafts . 4 . Somerset, UK .
  24. Book: Hughes, Graham . 1972 . The Art of Jewellery . Viking Press . New York, USA . 168 . 9780670134809 .
  25. January 1971 . Brian Beaumont-Nesbitt . Farnley Arts Fair . The Connoisseur . London . Vol. 176 No. 707 . Sampson Low, Marston and Co . 147.
  26. News: 1950-10-31 . Derby Daily Telegraph . . A craftsman . 3 . Derby, UK .
  27. News: 1950-05-20 . Frontier Sentinel . . Newry lady as British crafts organiser . 3 . Newry, UK .
  28. News: 1964-06-16 . Grimsby Daily Telegraph . . World treasurer . 6 . Grimsby, UK .
  29. News: 1948-08-07 . The Sphere . Charles Graves . The call to the craftsmen . 28 . London, UK .
  30. News: 1948-08-07 . The Sphere . Charles Graves . The call to the craftsmen . 28 . London, UK .
  31. News: 1949-12-13 . Birmingham Daily Gazette . . Moving the centre . 4 . Birmingham, UK .
  32. News: 1951-01-09 . Birmingham Daily Gazette . . Britain's potters . 4 . Birmingham, UK .
  33. News: 1951-01-13 . Coventry Evening Telegraph . . 'Giants of Old' . 5 . Coventry, UK .
  34. News: 1951-09-24 . Torbay Express and South Devon Echo . . They beat gold bars to strips . 4 . Torbay, UK .
  35. News: 1951-10-27 . The Sphere . . The Society of Scribes . 31 . London, UK .
  36. News: 1952-01-17 . West Sussex Gazette . . Spinet and Clavichord: Craftmen's Exhibitions . 4 . Haslemere, UK .
  37. News: 1952-03-18 . Birmingham Daily Gazette . . They worked for it . 4 . Birmingham, UK .
  38. News: 1954-04-05 . Coventry Evening Telegraph . . A master potter . 15 . Coventry, UK .
  39. News: 1954-04-30 . Coventry Evening Telegraph . . Furniture maker who follows the "Cotswolds Tradition" . 8 . Coventry, UK .
  40. News: 1954-10-08 . Belfast Telegraph . . Hand weaving . 3 . Belfast, UK .
  41. News: 1955-01-15 . The Sphere . . Exhibition of engraved glass in London . 29 . London, UK .
  42. News: 1955-05-12 . Birmingham Daily Post . . Exhibition of modern jewellery . 27 . Birmingham, UK .
  43. News: 1955-10-01 . The Scotsman . . Work by English craftsmen Acheson House Display . 10 . Edinburgh, UK .
  44. News: 1956-02-04 . Leicester Evening Mail . . Craft in the home . 2 . Leicester, UK .
  45. News: 1956-05-07 . Birmingham Daily Post . . Courageous Move . 20 . Birmingham, UK .
  46. News: 1956-08-29 . Eastbourne Gazette . . London Show . 5 . Eastbourne, UK .
  47. News: 1956-09-04 . Birmingham Daily Post . . Contrasting styles . 3 . Birmingham, UK .
  48. News: 1956-10-02 . Birmingham Daily Post . . London display of handwriting . 21 . Birmingham, UK .
  49. News: 1956-11-10 . Birmingham Daily Post . . Midland Craft work on show in London . 6 . Birmingham, UK .
  50. News: 1957-04-22 . Birmingham Daily Post . . On show in London . 25 . Birmingham, UK .
  51. News: 1958-10-13 . Belfast Telegraph . . Belfast to see work of British Craftsmen . 5 . Belfast, UK .
  52. News: 1960-02-26 . Kensington Post . . Craftsmen in the modern world – by Prince Philip . 6 . London, UK .
  53. News: 1960-06-11 . Rugeley Times . . Art in glass . 6 . Rugeley, UK .
  54. News: 1965-12-22 . Belfast Telegraph . . Duke's visit . 1 . Belfast, UK .
  55. News: Pottery Presents . 25 June 2024 . Wolverhampton Express and Star . 23 December 1965.
  56. News: 1966-12-23 . Wolverhampton Express and Star . . Pottery Presents . 8 . Wolverhampton, UK .
  57. News: 1968-01-18 . The Stage . . Theatre to have a better place in Camden Festival . 14 . London, UK .
  58. News: 1968-02-28 . Grimsby Daily Telegraph . . Royal lenders . 12 . Grim, UK .
  59. News: 1969-01-10 . Coventry Evening Telegraph . . Visiting Scottish design display . 26 . Coventry, UK .
  60. News: 1970-07-04 . Nottingham Guardian . . At the crafts centre . 3 . Nottingham, UK .
  61. News: 1970-06-25 . Grimsby Daily Telegraph . . Bits and pieces . 5 . Grimsby, UK .
  62. News: 1971-12-27 . Birmingham Daily Post . Terry Grimley . Craftsmen make most of grants . 6 . Birmingham, UK .
  63. News: 1963-06-12 . Belfast News Letter . . A scribe and illuminator . 4 . Belfast, UK .
  64. News: 1951-03-03 . Crosby Herald . . WVS roll of honour . 3 . Crosby, UK .
  65. Book: 1954 . Holme . Rathbone . Frost . Kathleen . Modern Lettering and Calligraphy: A Sequel to Lettering of Today . Studio Publications . London, UK . 9 .
  66. News: 1948-12-09 . Suffolk and Essex Free Press . . High standard was a surprise . 8 . Suffolk, UK .
  67. Book: Barbara, Dawson . 1976 . Metal Thread Embroidery . Batsford . London, UK . 219 . 071343144X .
  68. News: 1961-06-09 . Surrey Mirror . . Award for Redhill needlewoman . 9 . Surrey, UK .
  69. News: 1967-03-07 . The Scotsman . . arts, fashion, crafts . 10 . Edinburgh, UK .
  70. Book: Howard, Constance . 1981 . Twentieth-century embroidery in Great Britain to 1939 . Batsford . London, UK . 178 . 0713439424.
  71. News: 1950-04-18 . The Scotsman . . Crafts centre . 6 . Edinburgh, UK .
  72. Book: Grover, Ray . 1975 . Contemporary Art Glass . Crown Publishers . New York, USA . 101 . 0517516284.
  73. News: 1956-05-30 . Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News . . A presentation goblet . 27 . London, UK .
  74. News: 1971-06-25 . Kensington Post . . IN and around Gloucester Road . 21 . London, UK .
  75. News: 1970-12-11 . Kensington News and West London Times . . Glitters . 5 . London, UK .
  76. News: 1949-08-11 . Harrow Observer . . A work of art . 1 . Harrow, UK .
  77. News: 1963-11-01 . Reading Standard . . Man and wife show . 8 . Reading, UK .
  78. News: 1970-05-22 . Alderley and Wilmslow Advertiser . . Made to measure jewellery is his ladder to fame . 3 . Alderley, UK .
  79. Book: Casson, Michael . 1967 . Pottery in Britain today . Tiranti . London . 5 . 0854580204.
  80. News: 1967-10-06 . Kensington Post . . John Gander's art news . 20 . London, UK .
  81. News: 1978-11-03 . Westminster and Pimlico News . . Death of an artist . 7 . London, UK .
  82. News: 1979-07-13 . Biggleswade Chronicle . . Pottery in motion . 56 . Biggleswade, UK .
  83. Book: Casson, Michael . 1967 . Pottery in Britain today . Tiranti . London . 6 . 0854580204.
  84. Book: Fournier, Robert . 1970 . Ceramic Creations . Sterling . New York . 110 . 9780517126318.
  85. News: 1951-06-23 . Clevedon Mercury . Louis Katin . Six generations of potters . 4 . Clevedon, UK .
  86. News: 1959-10-16 . Bogner Regis Observer . . Famous Potter makes her home at Selsey . 15 . Bognor Regis, UK .
  87. News: 1959-05-29 . Westminster and Pimlico News . . Uses mainly wood ash glazes . 7 . London, UK .
  88. News: 1967-11-24 . Bury Free Press . . Potter will show his work on tv programme . 5 . Bury, UK .
  89. News: 1964-02-29 . Nottingham Guardian . . Hobby into business . 4 . Nottingham, UK .
  90. Book: Grover, Ray . 1975 . Contemporary Art Glass . Crown Publishers . New York, USA . 107 . 0517516284 .
  91. Book: Nelson, Glen C . 1966 . Ceramics: A potter's handbook . Holt, Rinehart and Winston . Minnesota, USA . 55 .
  92. Book: Casson, Michael . 1967 . Pottery in Britain today . Tiranti . London . 7 . 0854580204.
  93. News: 1954-08-24 . Birmingham Daily Post . . Sculpture in Pottery 'a light industry' . 10 . Birmingham, UK .
  94. Book: Backemeyer, Sylvia . 2000 . Making their mark: art, craft and design at the Central School 1896-1966 . Herbert Press . London . 114 . 0713652616.
  95. News: 1973-10-16 . South Eastern Gazette . . Pots take wing to Euro show . 3 . London, UK .
  96. News: 1958-11-14 . Westminster & Pimlico News . . When Cheyne Walk really had an atmosphere . 3 . London, UK .
  97. Book: Nelson, Glen C . 1966 . Ceramics: A potter's handbook . Holt, Rinehart and Winston . Minnesota, USA . 49 .
  98. News: 1955-10-07 . Surrey Mirror . . Pottery Exhibition . 14 . Surrey, UK .
  99. News: 1976-05-27 . Glamorgan Gazette . . Charles and Mary at Malmesbury . 9 . Glamorgan, UK .
  100. Book: MacDonald, George F . 1989 . Masters of the crafts: recipients of the Saidye BonrfmanAward for Excellents . Canadian Museum of Civilisation . Quebec, Canada . 60 . 9780660107882 .
  101. News: 1971-09-03 . Bury Free Press . . Silversmiths put their work on show . 10 . Bury, UK .
  102. News: 1970-03-13 . Maidstone Telegraph . . Paul has silver chosen for show . 3 . Maidstone, UK .
  103. Winter 1954–1955 . Eileen Bradford . Teaching the blind to weave . Handweaver and Craftsman . North Carolina, USA . Vol. 1 No. 7 . Lily Mills Company . 42.
  104. News: 1955-11-04 . East Kent Gazette . . Weaving exhibition . 4 . Kent, UK .
  105. News: 1950-04-19 . Bradford Observer . . Illustrations . 3 . Bradford, UK .
  106. News: 1954-06-25 . Chelsea News and General Advertiser . . Cleopatra in red satin . 6 . Chelsea, UK .
  107. News: Evesham Standard & West Midland Observer . . Talk to county guild . 8 . 1954-03-26 . Evensham, UK .
  108. Web site: ABOUT US . Contemporary Applied Arts . en.
  109. News: 1948-11-03 . Daily News (London) . . Homework . 2 . London, UK .
  110. Book: 1962 . Who’s Who in Art . Art Trade Press . Detroit, USA . 330 .
  111. Book: Sherman, Vera . 1972 . Wall Hangings of Today . C T Branford . London, UK . 110 . 9780263517293.
  112. News: 1971-09-22 . Liverpool Echo . . Accepted . 3 . Liverpool, UK .
  113. News: 1948-10-29 . Stratford Upon Avon Herald . . Stratford Fashion Parade . 3 . Stratford Upon Avon, UK .
  114. News: 1950-06-07 . The Scotsman . . Craft Centre Plans . 4 . Edinburgh, UK .
  115. News: 1958-06-20 . Hertford Mercury and Reformer . . Carved tablet unveiled by Queen Mother . 11 . Hertford, UK .
  116. News: 1953-07-17 . Kent and Sussex Courier . . Skilled craftsman . 1 . Kent, UK .
  117. Book: Joyce, Ernest . 1970 . Encyclopedia of Furniture Making . Drake . New York, USA . 13 . 9780877490685.
  118. News: 1972-05-23 . Liverpool Daily Post . . Craft Link . 3 . Liverpool, UK .
  119. News: 1972-07-21 . Coventry Evening Telegraph . . Craftsmen in line . 8 . Coventry, UK .
  120. Web site: Beginnings . . caagallery.org . 2024-03-05.

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