About Us

Craft Scotland is a Scottish charity, working to unite, inspire and champion Scottish craft.

Craft Scotland work to promote a wide range of crafts, including ceramics, glass, textiles, millinery, furniture, jewellery, metalwork, wood, lettering, musical instruments, paper, basket making, willow weaving, mosaics, heritage craft, and printing on fabric/glass/ceramics (limited productions).*

We are the world’s first audience development agency for craft. This means that we employ the three principles of audience development in our work: marketing & communications, research & intelligence, and engagement & participation.

Craft Scotland is made up of a team of creative thinkers, marketers and champions of Scottish craft. We are placing ourselves at the front of a global craft revolution.

We run exhibitions and events which connect the public with the Scottish craft community, often working with partner organisations such as National Museums Scotland, Timespan, the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, and the Collins Gallery. We also present collections of Scottish craft to the public in UK and International craft, design and art shows.

Our website provides a platform for craft people and places across Scotland to promote their work and connect to a diverse audience. Thousands of people visit craftscotland.org every month to find out more about craft, see what’s on in their area, and commission craft directly from the makers.

A survey carried out on behalf of Creative Scotland and other UK craft agencies revealed that Scottish craft contributes over £70million to the economy, from an estimated 3,350 Scottish craft makers. As of April 2013, Craft Scotland feature profile pages for 1,574 Scottish based craft makers; nearly 47% of this thriving sector. 

Our core funding is provided by Creative Scotland, the national leader for Scotland’s arts, screen and creative industries. 

*We currently do not represent fine art, painting, drawing, photography, printing on paper, taxidermy, candle, soap or cake making, or stationary and jewellery made by the assembly of bought-in materials. This is mainly due to our funding remit. However, Craft Scotland support the work of makers who incorporate non-craft disciplines into their craft practice: for instance photographic transfers on handmade ceramics, or painting onto blown glass. We regularly review our representation based on feedback from makers and artisans, and new methods of making.

Craft Scotland - making connections, creating opportunities.