MAKE History

Sector-wide discussions, led by the Craft Development Network, a sector network initiated and supported by Craft Scotland, lead to developmental work by Roanne Dods into co-creating a vision for Craft in Scotland over a proposed ten-year period.

Roanne Dods delivers the World Craft Café to ‘co-create a vision for craft in Scotland’. The event generates data, which the MAKE Manifesto is built from.

Craft Scotland acts as a craft incubator, nurturing the first iteration of MAKE, commissioning Panel to deliver a report on the findings of the World Craft Café.

A declaration of intentions, motives and views on the sector, an enhanced Manifesto for Craft in Scotland is developed. The overarching aim of the MAKE Manifesto is to positively influence the perception of craft in Scotland and do so from the ‘ground-up’. A series of priorities, actions, outcomes and related aims underpin this fundamental focus.

Panel launches the MAKE manifesto through an ‘Unconference’ event called MAKE Happen.

Through analysis of data collected from a series of pitch sessions with makers during MAKE Happen, three key themes are  identified as areas, which the sector feel most strongly about developing: ‘Education’, ‘Digital Resourcing and Connectivity’ and ‘Diversity and Inclusion’.

The inaugural MAKE Advisory Group is appointed to develop action around MAKE’s agreed priorities. MAKE is amplified by craft champions across Scotland, who support and shape collective custodianship of the Manifesto, raising awareness of its nine points and inspiring action.

Supporting makers in response to the Covid-19 crisis, MAKE delivers a programme of resources, advice sessions, commissions and micro-grants in partnership with Applied Arts Scotland and in association with Craft Scotland.

Funded by Creative Scotland, MAKE and Craft Scotland develop an advocacy project designed to strengthen Scotland’s craft sector through a review of the provision and development of craft education within Scotland’s primary and secondary schools and beyond. Research and project activity is developed to support MAKE Learn’s aims.