New Director joins craftscotland

craftscotland, the promotion agency for Scotland’s contemporary crafts today announced the appointment of a new Director. Emma Walker joins craftscotland from Arts About Manchester, where she was Audience Development Manager. www.craftscotland.org showcases work by skilled makers, some of whom are at the very beginning of their careers and others who are internationally recognised as being at the top of their profession.

Stephen Richard, chair of craftscotland:

"After a period on a project basis, the appointment of Emma Walker launches craftscotland as the main marketing organisation for craft in Scotland.  This is the time when we will be building on our strong maker base to expand the communications with the consumer and to mature into an organisation with wider financial support."

Welcoming Emma’s appointment, Dr Helen Bennett, Head of Crafts, Scottish Arts Council said:

‘Scottish Arts Council is pleased to support the appointment of craftscotland’s first Director to lead the organisation’s continuing development as a single gateway for the national and international promotion of  Scottish makers.

‘We look forward to working with Emma, whose previous experience is likely to prove particularly valuable towards broadening audience engagement with craftscotland and the crafts sector as a whole’

Emma added: “I am delighted to be taking on the role of Director at such an exciting time. The impact craftscotland has had since its beginning three years ago is outstanding and I am eager to continue this success as I lead the organisation into its next phase.

‘My priority is to continue to promote Scotland’s international reputation for high quality contemporary crafts and to act as an ambassador for the professional crafts community.’

craftscotland will be showcasing the work of makers based in Scotland at the Homes and Interiors exhibition at Glasgow’s SECC this weekend (29-31 August).  This complements craftscotland’s provision of an online directory of makers, used by buyers commissioning new work, curators looking for exhibition pieces, galleries or those seeking classes in their local area. The site features the work of practitioners skilled in ceramics, furniture and wood, glass, jewellery and metalwork, lettering, musical instruments, paper, textiles and basketmaking.  craftscotland is funded by the Scottish Arts Council.

Emma’s role begins on Monday 29 September and will allow the organisation to continue to build upon the impressive results produced so far whilst considering strategic opportunities for marketing and branding, research and intelligence, audience development and future funding sources.

Emma’s previous role at Arts About Manchester focused on audience development for the North West of England as well as supporting arts organisations in future business planning and creative thinking. That role also involved supporting arts organisations in future business planning and creative thinking.

Emma is also a Governor of the Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds. She has worked on a range of diverse projects including In Touch (a project focused on improving access to cultural organisations for Deaf and Disabled people), Revealing Histories: Remembering Slavery (the Greater Manchester response to the Bicentenary of the Abolition of the British Slave Trade Act) and Open City (a project working with groups of people who do not currently attend cultural events).

Notes to editors

The Scottish Arts Council is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) which was established by Royal Charter in 1994 and is also a Lottery distributor. The organisation serves the people of Scotland by fostering arts of excellence through investment, development, research and advocacy. Our corporate aims are: to support artists to fulfil their creative and business potential; to increase participation in the arts; and to place the arts, culture and creativity at the heart of learning. We invest £60m each year, including £15 million of National Lottery funding. For more information visit: www.scottisharts.org.uk

1. Media wishing to speak to Emma should contact the Scottish Arts Council media office in the first instance.

Contact email(s)

media.office@scottisharts.org.uk

Issued by: Scottish Arts Council