Nurturing craft talent and equipping makers with the skills they need to create a sustainable business and creative practice Craft Scotland’s flagship learning and development programme is now in its fifth year.  

For 2023, our COMPASS: Emerging Maker Programme brings together a cohort of makers at a crucial point in their craft careers to explore new audiences and business models, whilst building personal skills to achieve their ambitions.  

From ceramicists to glass artists, furniture makers to jewellers, meet the seven makers taking part in this year’s programme below.

This year's online workshops will cover business fundamentals and pricing, marketing, branding and brand storytelling, and include Maker Journeys in Focus, in which established makers share their professional stories. Delivered by knowledgeable workshop leaders who understand the day-to-day of being a maker, participants will be guided through the fundamentals of running a craft business.

The programme will also include a five-day immersive residential held at the renowned arts centre Hospitalfield in Arbroath. Participants will work through case studies, engage in peer-to-peer critiques, and explore their personal, professional and creative values. This element of the programme is an opportunity to address each participant’s unique needs and requirements.    

Following the residential, participants will be paired with a mentor for a series of six one-to-one online sessions. To deliver this aspect of the programme, Craft Scotland has partnered with Cockpit, a London-based organisation supporting contemporary makers. These one-to-one mentoring sessions will be run by Cockpit’s experienced and knowledgeable Business Incubation team. 

COMPASS: Dedicated Places 

Craft Scotland knows that specific groups of makers are systematically under-supported in the craft sector and for 2023 Craft Scotland created dedicated places for makers on this programme with lived experience of being Black, Asian, Mixed Heritage and/or a Person of Colour, refugee, D/deaf, disabled and/or working class. 

About COMPASS 

COMPASS is Craft Scotland’s learning and development programme created specifically for makers. COMPASS focuses on developing craft talent and equipping individuals with the necessary skills to create a sustainable craft practice.  

Craft Scotland have created three programmes to provide support for a wide range of craft careers: Next Generation, Emerging Maker and Established Maker. Participants can cultivate networks and develop their knowledge about selling effectively, marketing, entrepreneurship and more. COMPASS is supported by the William Grant Foundation, the William Syson Foundation, Baillie Gifford and Creative Scotland.