Scotland is one of the countries which will feature in a series of conversations called ‘Handwerk: Conversations in Eurocraft’ taking place during COLLECT 2005 at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London in January.

This series features key European craftspeople, designers, design historians and curators in conversation.  They will explore the complexities of contemporary craft and its precedents in Sweden, Scotland, The Netherlands and Czech Republic.

The conversation about Scotland will be led by Dr Helen Bennett MBE , head of crafts at the Scottish Arts Council, who will talk to textile artist Sara Brennan and jeweller Susan Cross about the inter-relationships between these two crafts.

Other events in the education programme include a late view lecture ‘The Fine Art of Textiles’ by Dr Jennifer Harris, deputy director of the Whitworth Art Gallery, who will investigate the historical roots of art textiles and the current state of practice in the discipline and ‘Hand to Eye: Contemporary Craft’, a study day examining contemporary craft practice which includes metalsmith, Junko Mori, ceramicist Rupert Spira, glass artist David Reekie and textile artist Freddie Robins, talking about their work.

COLLECT 2005 takes place at the Victoria & Albert Museum between 12 and 17 January and is presented by the Crafts Council. It offers a dynamic mix of galleries showing work by their principal artists and installations specially created for the fair. Galleries from the UK, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Japan, Sweden, Switzerland and The Netherlands will be exhibiting.  On sale will be contemporary objects in glass, ceramic, metal and textiles, furniture and a wide range of art jewellery, with prices from £500.

For further information about COLLECT 2005, the education programme and booking tickets visit http://www.craftscouncil.org.uk/collect/index.htm