The first Skills Conference at the Skills Centre on Friday 20 September is now confirmed and I wanted to share these details with you. The sustainability of heritage skills training is one of the biggest threats and the conference will face into this exploring their loss and decline but with a positive lens highlighting the ingenuity and innovation of individuals and organisations keeping them alive through business modelling, education, and engagement.
We have amazing line up of speakers to lead and inspire our conversation on the day:
Mary Lewis – Head of Craft Sustainability, Heritage Crafts Association
Setting the scene for the landscape of crafts in the 21st century, through the importance of intangible cultural heritage and the HCA’s red list.
Claire Murdoch – Chief Executive Bishopsland Education Trust
Excellence in Vocational Skills Training, opportunities to pursue a sustainable career as a craftsperson requires a number of pathways for young people to follow. These may encompass formal education and/or an apprenticeship, but one of the fundamental success factors for all makers is a mastery of the skills required to transform their designs into objects with a commercial value. Bishopsland has been delivering vocational training for 30 years and we will share some of our insights on how to develop the next generations of skilled craftspeople.
Lucy McGrath – Designer-maker, Marmor Paperie
The growth of paper marbling, how social media can benefit an endangered craft
Brian Hall – Director, Hall Conservation and Chair of National Heritage Ironwork Group
Sharing the work of the National Heritage Ironwork Group in supporting Heritage Skills
Tom Ball - de Laszlo Senior Woodcarving Tutor, City and Guilds of London Arts School
What do you do when you make a mistake! A dive into the carving process and career of a professional carver.
Suz Williams – Designer-maker, Coppice Co
Exploring wellbeing and craft the wider impacts of skills on makers and students alike
Thomas Van Kampen, Historic Interiors Conservator and Caroline Gudge, C branch, Masters of the Household department, Royal Household
The role of the branch, the skilled craftspeople who make up the team, and the methods and systems used to preserve and conserve their working historic collection to the highest standards.
Fleur Gordon – Head of Skills and Crafts, Skills National Trust
Sharing an overview of some of the challenges, what research and working groups are looking at and what the Trust is doing for heritage building skills through its Specialist Crafts teams and the linked apprenticeship programme.
Outside the conference space there will be demonstrations happening from a wide range of makers including the National Trust’s own Specialist Craft teams. Plenty of space to sit and discuss opportunities and also meet the new residents of the Skills Centre, see a Decorative Plaster course happening, the exhibition barn open and hear more of the plans for the future.
Tickets are now selling well and places are limited
National Trust, Buscot and Coleshill Estate Office, Coleshill, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN6 7PT - 01793 762209
Christian Walker General Manager West Oxfordshire
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