WHAT'S HAPPENING AT MCDC
In the heart of Manchester's creative Northern Quarter, Manchester Craft & Design Centre is housed in a former Victorian fish and poultry market building. It's home to 19 working studio boutiques where 35 artists, designers and craftspeople produce and sell work to the public six days a week. Oak St. Cafe serves delicious homemade food to eat in or take away. A daily-changing menu includes fritattas, cakes, made-to-order pizzas and some damn fine coffee.
The Centre's patron and elbow frontman, Guy Garvey, has this to say:
"Years ago I'd sit and scribble in the cafe, or wander around the shops watching people work. It’s one of those warm personal destinations thatI'll meet friends from out of town in and if you like to give personal gifts then there is nowhere better in the North West. I’m very proud to be a patron."
Schools out: Half Term at MCDC
Keep the kids busy and boredom at bay this coming half term with a visit to the MCDC. Not only can you wander around our beautiful centre (no need to worry about the weather here), discover our unique makers and relax with some cake in Oak Street Cafe, but we will also have a series of FREE fun, family, friendly activities too!
Future Makers
FREE half term activity: ‘Be a crafty detective’ Pick up one of our family friendly trail maps and see if you can answer the questions provided, using all of your detective skills.
GOOD LUCK!
Fathers Day: Find the perfect unique gift
16th June 2013
Let's face it: Dads can be extremely difficult to shop for. And with Father's Day around the corner, the hunt for the perfect gift is on. If you are looking for something interesting and unique that he'll love but might not have thought of to buy himself then the MCDC is the perfect place for you.
Make sure you visit our independent retailers and their creative, homemade, often one-of-a-kind items perfect for your father. We will also be featuring our favourite fathers day top picks from our talented sellers. So keep your eyes peeled for some gift inspiration.
Upcoming Exhibition: Forming Words
Forming Words flows freely from London to Manchester
Manchester Craft & Design Centre’s latest exhibition, Forming Words, showcases a selection of contemporary craft objects which have been inspired and informed by text. Each work in this exhibition was specially commissioned by Flow Gallery, London, and responds to a piece of writing of the artist’s choice, from poetry to a letter to lyrics. MCDC is the exhibition’s first touring venue outside London.
The exhibition features 17 international artists from the UK, Ireland, USA, the Netherlands, Finland, and Sweden. Each artist has approached the theme differently, resulting in a thought provoking exhibition showcasing the inspiration that text can provide. It showcases a variety of disciplines including jewellery, ceramics and enamel.
Forming Words will be open at Manchester Craft and Design Centre on Saturday 13 July 2013 – Saturday 9 November 2013.
Fundraising for the future: Catalyst success for national craft consortium
A consortium of five nationally acclaimed organisations working in the field of contemporary craft and design have successfully bid for £150,000 from Arts Council England’s Catalyst Arts: building fundraising capacity scheme.
The Catalyst Crafts Consortium consists of Bluecoat Display Centre, Liverpool; Craftspace, Birmingham; Devon Guild, Bovey Tracey; Manchester Craft & Design Centre; and Smiths Row, Bury St Edmunds.
The leaders of these organisations have a history of working collaboratively and this funding will enable them to join forces again to develop the case for support and devise key messages to attract donors to invest in the craft sector. The award will also enable them to test a range of different approaches to fundraising including crowd-funding and membership schemes.
Contemporary crafts is an area that has been historically under-funded which, along with the continuing economic recession, means that need to develop specialist skills in fundraising is particularly pressing within this sector.
As small independent organisations based outside London, the Catalyst Craft Consortium believe that through a shared approach as leaders in the field they will create a nationally united front for contemporary craft which will have greater impact when approaching philanthropists and donors.
Alan Davey, Chief Executive, Arts Council England, said: “Catalyst Arts is about helping arts organisations of all shapes and sizes become more resilient by enabling them to up their fundraising game. Smaller organisations in particular often struggle to find the time or resources to develop new sources of income. So it’s great to see this group of unique and valuable craft organisations coming together to strengthen their skills and capacity and to share lessons. It is the kind of collaborative work which the Catalyst Arts scheme was designed for; transferring learning and skills to as many organisations as possible across the country.”
Maureen Bampton Director of the Bluecoat Display Centre, says, “We are delighted to have been successful in this bid, the specialist training that we will receive over the next two years will enable us all to develop new skills and explore many new areas of fundraising which should be really useful to developing the financial security of the individual organisations, and help us all to develop many new and exciting projects”.
Deirdre Figueiredo, Director of Craftspace comments “Being part of the Catalyst Craft Consortium will enable Craftspace to make a step-change in its business model and make itself investment ready through equipping staff and board to develop a compelling case for support and cultivate new prospects“
Executive Director of the Devon Guild, Erica Steer, says, “Catalyst funding will build our fundraising capability throughout the organisation. We look forward to sharing learning with senior staff and board members across the consortium which will provide added value and insights into different approaches to sustainability.”
Kate Day, Manchester Craft & Design Centre’s Director, comments, “As a small not-for-profit organisation we have never had the resources to develop in-house fundraising expertise, or to analyse our key messages and prospects for attracting support. The Catalyst funding will free up staff time and provide invaluable learning opportunities to access expert knowledge and expertise, enabling us to make a step-change in our approach to fundraising.”
Niki Braithwaite, Director of Smiths Row stated, "This funding will provide much needed support and access to expert advice on how best to develop our fundraising strategy as well as enabling us to build the case for supporting crafts for the sector as a whole.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: marketing@craftanddesign.com
New concession rates for our workshops!
You can now save 10% when booking our workshops if you are a valid student, senior citizen, person with a disability or unemployed. Please bring proof or ID along with you to the workshop.
Tickets are currently available for the following workshops:
7th June 2013: Throw with Joe - £50 per person (£45 concessions)
TO BOOK CLICK HERE
Make with Makers: Throw With Joe Workshop
Friday 7 June, 10am – 4pm | Manchester School of Art
£50 per person
Our current exhibition, 'Every Step' showcases the work of maker Joe Hartley. As part of our Make with Makers workshop series Joe invites you to a creative workshop where you will learn how to throw clay on the wheel, as well as having a go at turning a pot.
Joe will share his own creative process with you as well of some of his personal clay working tips and tricks and you'll end the day having made your very own usable bowl, which will be fired and collected after the session. This class is hosted by Manchester Craft & Design Centre and will take place at Manchester Metropolitan University (Oxford Road).
BOOK TICKETS: CLICK HERE or email us at exhibitions@craftanddesign.com
