About Craft Scotland - What We Do

Craft Scotland is a registered Scottish charity and the world’s first audience development agency for craft.

Our purpose is simple: to unite, inspire and champion Scottish craft.

We are a team of creative thinkers, marketers and champions of Scottish craft, placing ourselves at the front of a global craft revolution. We focus on engaging with audiences.

We want to ensure that as many people as possible have the opportunity to buy, see, commission, enjoy, visit, explore and aspire to own Scottish craft. We seek to create new fans, inspire new makers and develop opportunities to show and sell work, in order to build a brighter and richer future for craft.

We employ the three principles of audience development in our work: marketing & communications, research & intelligence, and engagement & participation.

What Craft Scotland do

Our popular website www.craftscotland.org hosts the details of over 1,700 craft businesses around Scotland, promotes exhibitions and events across the country, and provides information, news and resources for both the public and the craft community.

In our marketing campaign The C Word, we challenged misconceptions about craft by demonstrating how artistic, unique, and desirable it can be. As the first national cinema advertising campaign for craft, The C Word generated worldwide interest and exposure in both Craft Scotland and Scottish craft.

We run exhibitions and events for both the public and 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.

Read more about Craft Scotland campaigns and events.

Craft Scotland - making connections, creating opportunities.

The Craft Scotland Philosophy

our purpose is to unite, inspire and champion Scottish craft

our vision is to be the world’s most inspirational creative organisation

Craft Scotland's core values underpin everything we do. They’re the reason we come to work in the morning.

We will champion quality. From marketing and copywriting to events and exhibitions, excellence is at the heart of what we do.

We will be brave. We have confidence in our professional expertise and in the worth of the craft sector. These convictions allow us to be bold in our marketing, innovative in our campaigns, and unafraid to challenge misconceptions about craft.

We will be creative. We want to inspire audiences, and can't do this through mediocrity. We want to create new craft fans, inspire new makers, and position Scotland at the forefront of a global craft revolution. Where innovation is required, we will provide it through creative thinking and strength of vision.

We will look forward. For the rich history of craft to be appreciated, we know we need to plan for the future. We will lobby for change, spot trends, embrace the emerging and think strategically.

We will act with integrity. From honesty in our professional dealings to open applications for exhibitions, we will act without bias. We represent all regions of Scotland, and all eligible craft disciplines, without exception.