As regular readers of our blog and Inside Craft Scotland will be aware, in 2010 Craft Scotland were appointed as an AmbITion Scotland Partner organisation, and awarded funding to help us to become more interactive, innovative, inspiring and communicative through effective utilisation of new digital technologies.

After an excellent response to our website ITT and a competitive selection process at the start of 2011, we were delighted to appoint Wildfire Technology Limited as our new website providers.

Wildfire develop systems that help organisations manage their information and communicate more effectively online.

Wildfire and Craft Scotland are now working together to develop an exciting new platform for Scottish craft.

The new craftscotland.org

Whether you are a craft maker, place, fan or newcomer, you will be able to use our new site to interact, share and connect with Craft Scotland website visitors from around the world.

Our new site will provide you with the opportunity to:

• provide reviews, comments and testimonials
• submit details of craft news, events and opportunities directly to the website
• create a homepage tailored with events and news of interest to you
• manage your own profile page on our community (directory)
• join the Craft Scotland membership, and discover exclusive online resources (makers)

This new functionality will go hand-in-hand with a new look for Craft Scotland (both online and offline) and new ways of connecting with craft. We aim to launch the new website and our new look by the end of summer 2011.

In addition to the new functionality, you should expect fresh email newsletters and more email subscription options, as well as new content and opportunities on the website.

Future developments include:

• an international subsite
• an online Scottish craft shop

The Directory

People and places currently listed on our directory will be sent an email from Craft Scotland when the new website launches. This email will provide information on how to update your existing directory entry, how to submit events and news to the site, and how to become a Craft Scotland member.

All our content, including the current Craft Scotland directory, will be migrated to the new website. To help this process run smoothly, we will temporarily freeze new directory submissions from Friday 22 July 2011 until the new site launches. However, people interested in joining will be able to register their interest, and will be notified via email as soon as the new site is live.

Over the upcoming weeks we will be blogging about our progress on the new site, opportunities arising from the project, and details of our launch date. Keep up to date with us at www.craftscotland.org.

Find out more about Wildfire at http://www.wearewildfire.com/

More about AmbITion Scotland

Supported by Creative Scotland, AmbITion Scotland is a change programme for the arts and cultural sector – helping organisations achieve their 21st century sustainability ambitions through implementing integrated IT and digital developments.

AmbITion Scotland is working directly with a range of organisations from all over Scotland. These groups represent a cross-section of the creative community in Scotland, from theatres to festivals, dancers to tour promoters.

The organisations receive support from the AmbITion Scotland programme through consultancy and direct grant funding. The programme seeks to promote a creative and supportive environment through digital development, creating wider access to a specialist knowledge base.