Programme Update: Spring 2026

As spring bursts into life around us, we are excited to share our latest developments and plans.

Together, the Craft Scotland team has cultivated a varied and ambitious programme to support the craft sector in the year ahead. These initiatives are rooted in three strategic focus areas: Presenting Craft, Learning and Engagement, and Leadership and Advocacy.

With Dr Stacey Hunter in a new role as Creative Director, our Presenting Craft programme has entered an era characterised by exploration and creative partnerships.

Building on the success of HARVEST: Contemporary Craft Fair we are launching more initiatives and events that bring Scottish contemporary craft to a wider audience in 2026. These include two pop-up showcases timed to coincide with Collect and London Craft Week in collaboration with long-term partners Jorum Studio, followed by a summer exhibition in partnership with Garvald Edinburgh.

Our Learning and Engagement programme is being invigorated with Ilaria Casini now in post as Learning Manager. This month a new cohort begins the second round of our COMPASS: Emerging Curator programme, and a recently developed COMPASS: Online Summer School opportunity will be released in May.

In autumn we will host a summit for craft professionals at HARVEST: A Longer Table in partnership with The Free Company. This special gathering will be an inspiring place to connect craft and conviviality. It is conceived of as an opportunity for makers to come together to reflect on the year that has passed and share their wisdom, knowledge and experiences with each other against the backdrop of a regenerative farm located at the foot of the Pentland Hills.

Later in the year we will publish findings from our Sector Survey to help shape key areas of our advocacy for the years to come. As the national development agency for craft, we remain committed to advocating for the craft sector, highlighting the contributions of craft and makers, and identifying key areas that need support and investment.

Below you will find key application deadlines and programme outlines. More dates for your diary include the Inches Carr Craft Bursaries 2026, the Jorum Craft Award and Craft Week Scotland 2026.

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Image: Monica Findlay and Sheng Zhang in Precious Metals in Marylebone / Photography by Fraser Scott

Recent Projects

Jorum x Craft Scotland: Precious Metals in Marylebone

• Dates: 25-27 February 2026

Held during Collect 2026, Precious Metals in Marylebone brought exquisite jewellery and silversmithing by Sheng Zhang, Ebba Goring and Monica Findlay to Jorum’s flagship London showroom.

Go See: Collect

• Dates: 27-28 February 2026

Craft Scotland supported four craft professionals to visit Collect Art Fair. Led by Craft Scotland Director Irene Kernan, the visit included professional introductions with gallerists and industry contacts and the opportunity to explore the scale and ambition of craft at this international fair.

Upcoming Projects and Key Dates

The Shape of Scent: Glass Reimagined with Juli Bolaños-Durman

• Exhibition dates: Tuesday 12 May 11am – 6pm, Wednesday 13 May 11am – 3pm 
• Location: JORUM LONDON, 2 Marylebone Street, London, W1G 8JQ

This May Craft Scotland and Jorum unite again to present a sensory showcase blending fragrance and glass for London Craft Week. The Shape of Scent presents a curated installation of Juli Bolaños-Durman’s glass sculptures inspired by Jorum’s perfumes.

Compass Emerging Curator Programme

• Programme dates: April 2026 - April 2027

In April, Elizabeth Ann Day, Kate Pickering, Scott Smith and Laura Wilson begin as the new cohort of our COMPASS: Emerging Curator Programme which aims to empower Scotland's next generation of craft curators. Led by ceramicist, curator and educator Katy West, the 2026-27 programme will combine online workshops and in-person site visits, including a cohort trip to London Craft Week.

COMPASS: Online Summer School

• Opportunity opens: 7 May 2026
• Programme runs 18 June to 13 August 2026

The COMPASS Online Summer School is a new opportunity for a cohort of makers to work through and apply the financial planning resources on our COMPASS Online Learning Platform. Combining peer learning and video resources with sessions led by an industry expert, this short programme will help makers develop practical finance skills and knowledge in an accessible and friendly environment.
 

Image: Borja Moronta, Inches Carr Established Maker 2025 / Photography by the artist

Inches Carr Craft Awards 2026

Opportunity dates for both Emerging Maker and Established Maker award categories: 

• Applications open: 4 June 2026
• Application deadline: 13 July 2026

With a prestigious history spanning 25 years, the Inches Carr Craft Bursaries have supported the careers of prominent Scotland-based makers. The awards offer bursaries to assist makers in the development of their craft practice through learning, training, research or exploration of new processes or materials. See 2025 recipients.

Garvald Edinburgh x Craft Scotland: Fired, Woven Carved

• Exhibition dates: 12 to 21 June 2026
• Location: Garvald Makers Shop, 356 Morningside Rd, Edinburgh

'Fired, Woven, Carved' is a new collaboration between Garvald Edinburgh and Craft Scotland showcasing the work of learning-disabled makers. The exhibition will celebrate the skills and stories flourishing within Garvald’s craft workshops and present ceramics, textiles and wood homewares created by over 20 skilled makers.

Craft Directory Open Call

• Summer selection round opens: 9 July 2026
• Summer selection round closes: 24 August 2026

Craft Scotland’s Directory is the go-to destination for those who are passionate about supporting Scottish craft and looking for beautiful handmade objects. Makers and craft venues can apply to join our selection of contemporary craft across Scotland and have their work featured on our popular website, social media and press features. Further benefits for Makers and Places on our Craft Directory will be announced soon.

Board and Advisory Group Recruitment

• Open call: Summer 2026

This summer we will be seeking new members to join the Craft Scotland Board and Advisory Group. These voluntary roles make valuable contributions to the work of the organisation, including helping to review our programme and strategic goals.

Sector Survey 2026

• Survey launched: May 2026
• Findings published: Autumn 2026

Inviting responses from Scotland’s makers, craft curators, educators and peer organisations, our Sector Survey provides an evidence base for understanding the craft sector's context, working models and finances. The findings will help to inform our programme of support and key areas for advocacy in the years ahead. Delve into the key findings from our Sector Report 2023 to see the insights gained in our last Sector Survey. 

Jorum Craft Award Round 13

• Applications open: September 2026

The Jorum Craft Award is a materials-focused grant supported by Jorum Studio, in partnership with Craft Scotland. The award supports makers to explore the intersection between technical skill and material innovation. See previous recipients.
 

Image: The Makers Gathering at Harvest Contemporary Craft Fair/ Photography by Grant Anderson

HARVEST: A Longer Table

• Date: 23 September 2026

Drawing from some of the themes within HARVEST: Contemporary Craft Fair 2025, this new craft summit for makers and craft professionals will delve further into topics like craft and food culture, sustainability and living with craft.

Offering talks and workshops for professional development alongside intentional gatherings and opportunities for connection, this one-day event aims to provide an enriching space for learning and sharing across Scotland’s craft community.

Craft Week Scotland

• Dates: 16 to 22 November 2026

Craft Week Scotland returns this year with a wide-reaching marketing and PR campaign to highlight contemporary craft retailers across Scotland. New digital and in-person initiatives will celebrate the vibrant community of shops, galleries, markets and fairs that provide a platform for makers to showcase and sell their work.  

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Please send us your news and press releases about recent launches, awards and collaborations to hello@craftscotland.org.