Manifesto for Making: Report

Submitted by: Vivian Orr, SCC Marketing and Communications Coordinator

The Heritage Crafts Association

Manifesto for Making: Report
23 March 2013

The Manifesto for Making was held as a part of the Heritage Crafts Associations’ annual Spring Conference at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London on 23 March 2013. The report is worthy of interest from us on the other side of the pond.

The first line of the forward to the report:

 If there is a key message I take from this manifesto it is that craft is central to life not a sideline, making is a crucial part of what makes us human.
 ~Robin Wood, Chair of the HCA

Conference delegates were asked three questions. Here is a brief summary of their responses.

1.       Why is making important? The responses indicated that making is important not only to the maker, but to everyone as human beings. There was a lot of emphasis on the importance of making on an emotional and personal level, with particular reference to fulfilment and satisfaction, and to the opportunity to express creativity.

2.       Where should making be? The responses indicated that making needs to be much more visible and prominent and should be physically everywhere. There was a particular emphasis on craft in education at all levels, as a way of giving people access to making.

3.       How do we get there? The dominant responses reflected non-makers. They indicated that publicity and promotions are vital to get making to where it should be – in the public consciousness. Another set of responses were maker specific and focused on the need for practical support for makers: marketing assistance, training, business and financial support.