New Craft - Future Voices, an international conference and exhibition encouraging debate about the future of craft, will take place in Dundee from 4 to 6 July 2007.

The conference will explore the relationship between skill, intellect and culture within the individual vision of craft practitioners and will initiate new discussion around critical issues including the economic sustainability of craft.

Keynote speakers for the conference are Paul Greenhalgh, former head of research at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, Marie O'Mahony, a consultant and lecturer specialising in textiles and technology, Sandra Alfoldy, assistant professor of craft history at NSCAD University in Halifax, Nova Scotia,  jeweller Bruce Metcalf who is currently senior lecturer at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and Jorunn Veiteberg who is professor craft theory at Kunsthøgskolen in Bergen and author of Craft in Transition, a new book on craft theory.

There will be six themes: Dialogue, Aesthetics, Craft Intelligence, Collaborative Practice, Communicating Craft and Critical Engagement and two parallel track sessions each day, over three days.  Other social events include a civic reception for delegates hosted by the Lord Provost of Dundee, the private view of the New Voices exhibition, dinner and ceilidh.

This challenging conference emanates from a five year AHRC funded grant of around £450,000 titled:  Past, Present and Future Craft Practice Research (PPFCP), led by Professor Georgina Follett and Dr Louise Valentine.  The PPFCP project is the largest grant ever awarded for Craft in the UK and has national and international prominence.  

The conference, which has already generated tremendous interest from sixteen countries worldwide, is hosted by Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, University of Dundee will be held at the Bonar Hall, University of Dundee, Perth Road, Dundee.  It is also supported by the Scottish Arts Council.

The research exhibition will be held in the Cooper Gallery, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, 152 Dundee Contemporary Arts and Centre Space - VRC and will feature works of interest to those seeking to develop an understanding of the potential future crafts discipline, its direction and economic opportunities.

Registration is now open and Early Bird registration before 15 April 2007 can save £65.  There is a limited concessionary fee of £100 available only to craft practitioners, researchers and PhD students until 30 April 2007.  Application can be made by visiting www.newcraftfuturevoices.com/main/event-registration/ 

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