The ‘Butterfly Effect’ proposes the idea that the flap of a butterfly’s wings in Brazil sets off a Tornado in Texas.  If this notion is true, that a very small activity can become amplified and strong enough to change the future, then we are hopefully about to see it in action in Scotland.

Over the past year a variety of crafts residencies have been taking place in schools across Scotland which were aimed at giving school children the chance to experience and understand contemporary craft.   As suits the subject, the initiative has been approached in a very creative and individual manner by bringing craftspeople into schools to work with young people and get them inspired. 

In East Dunbartonshire the children went ‘Animal Crackers’ creating large papier-mache sculptures of sharks, dogs and the Loch Ness Monster, while in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland there was an outbreak of small metal birds, a giant metal stag, felt covered stones and clocks.  

Children in West Lothian who learned to work with glass – designing, fusing, copper foiling, cutting, grinding, leading, soldering, cleaning and patina – felt it helped them to be more creative, share their ideas and work out problems.

It was this range of skills that had been identified as one of the many benefits of the initiative along with improved spatial awareness and a positive understanding of makers and what they do.  It may even encourage some pupils to consider crafts as a career choice.

However, this stimulus has been a two way experience as the makers have also found the experience has influenced their work.  Metal artist Rachel Higgins. who was based at Mallaig High School, creates pieces based on wildlife and explains that she now tries to bring some of the colours from the landscape into her work.

The initiative was launched as a result of feedback to the Scottish Arts Council Crafts Strategy two years ago.  It emerged that in recent years crafts had to some extent been out of fashion in education and there was a shortage of good craft components in art and design courses in schools.  To address this need the Scottish Arts Council adopted a commitment to work with the education sector to ensure every child has experience of making, and the residencies are a step towards this.

A fund of £50,000 was established for three consecutive years, open to individual schools, education departments and other selected educational groups.   The response was exceptional and the SAC received applications to the value of £250,000 from the length and breadth of Scotland.  An additional £100,000 was secured to enable them to meet the demand.  The residencies are now in their second year and applications for 2005/06 will be publicised early in 2005.

In year one crafts residencies took place in East Dunbartonshire, Edinburgh, West Lothian, East Lothian, Highlands, Aberdeen, Midlothian and Dumfries & Galloway.   A three year crafts residency called ‘Elements of Change’ also began in schools within North and East Ayrshire and Arran.

A new group of schools crafts residencies will be starting across Scotland over the next few months and a new generation of children will have the opportunity to experience contemporary craft.

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