The Guild Collaborates with Heritage Crafts to Champion Traditional Skills
The Guild is proud to announce a new collaboration with Heritage Crafts, the UK’s leading charity dedicated to safeguarding and celebrating traditional craft skills. Many of our members are also part of Heritage Crafts, and this collaboration reflects our shared commitment to supporting craftspeople and promoting the importance of heritage skills across the country.
Heritage Crafts works closely with Government and national bodies to ensure that traditional crafts remain a vibrant and valued part of the UK’s cultural identity. Their work is central to protecting endangered crafts, celebrating excellence, and providing support for those making a living through traditional hand skills.
While Heritage Crafts leads important initiatives across research, advocacy, safeguarding, and public engagement, our collaboration will focus on helping to promote their work to Guild members and our wider community. By raising awareness of the opportunities they provide, we can encourage more craftspeople to benefit from the support available and shine a light on the incredible diversity of heritage crafts still practised today.
Funding and Support Opportunities
Through Heritage Crafts, a wide range of funding opportunities are available for craftspeople at different stages of their careers. These schemes are designed to ensure traditional skills are not only preserved but also given the chance to thrive in a modern context.
– Training Bursaries – up to £4,000 to support new entrants and early-career makers in developing their skills. For many, this funding acts as a springboard into a sustainable craft career.
– Heritage Crafts Awards – running since 2012, these prestigious awards recognise excellence in traditional hand skills such as silversmithing, weaving, embroidery, leatherwork, and upholstery. Makers can self-nominate or be nominated by others.
– Maker Relief Fund – designed to provide emergency support to craftspeople facing financial hardship.
– Endangered Crafts Fund – supporting innovative projects that safeguard skills identified as critically endangered. Regional funding may be available, but applications are welcomed nationwide.
– Specialist Support – including a Training Bursary for British Military Veterans and the Patron’s Award for Endangered Crafts, which celebrates outstanding contributions to endangered skills.
These opportunities are vital for ensuring traditional crafts can continue to adapt and flourish. They not only provide financial assistance but also give recognition and visibility to the craftspeople working so hard to keep heritage skills alive.
Supporting Heritage Crafts
The best way to support the invaluable work of Heritage Crafts is to become a member of the charity. Membership directly helps to safeguard endangered skills and provides essential backing for their research, advocacy, and funding programmes.
Anyone wishing to join can do so easily via the Heritage Crafts website: heritagecrafts.org.uk/join-us.
A Shared Vision
The Guild’s collaboration with Heritage Crafts is rooted in a shared vision, to value, protect, and celebrate traditional crafts. By highlighting the opportunities and support that Heritage Crafts provides, we hope to connect more makers with the resources they need to succeed.
We encourage our members and wider network to explore these opportunities, apply where eligible, and spread the word about the vital work Heritage Crafts is doing.
Anyone interested in learning more can find full details in the Members Area of our website, or contact the Guild Head Office team for further information.
Together, we can help ensure that heritage crafts remain a living, thriving part of our cultural landscape, inspiring future generations of makers and safeguarding the skills that define our craft heritage.
