From pottery demonstrations with TV hosts to having your portrait painted live on zoom, the programme for virtual craft festivals is far from boring. Yes, we will be missing the hustle, bustle and chatter of an in-person craft festival, but in the meantime there are plenty of virtual craft events for everyone to get involved in from the comfort of your own home. Here are some of the upcoming events that we are excited to attend in the month of March.
1. The Maker Revolution: Can craft save our cities?
Tuesday 2nd March, 16:00 – 17:00
By Collect Fair 2021
Hosted by Crafts magazine this event will showcase innovative ways in which craft, makers and galleries alike can be used as a medium to bring regeneration and urban renewal to our cities. With the issues faced by our highstreets heightened by the pandemic, this is sure to be an increasingly relevant and upbeat talk. Personally, we love to see craft being used as a creative solution to a complicated problem. It takes place at 4pm on Tuesday the 2nd of March and will be available on YouTube after the event.
2. Master Maker Demonstration with potter, Richard Miller.
Friday 26th March, 12:30 – 13:30
By Digital Craft Festival 2021
If like us you have been watching the Great Pottery Throwdown this year, you will have already heard of Richard Miller. Previously working as the Throwdown’s ceramic technician since 2015 Richard joined Keith Brymer-Jones on the show’s judging panel this year. Richard also runs ceramic tile company Froyle which he took from the brink of collapse to a successful business working on commissions for companies such as the Tate and Nando’s to name a few. Live demonstrations bring the craft of ceramics to life and are mesmerising to watch! We are excited to see what he creates.
3. Virtual Workshops
By Digital Craft Festival 2021
Having been inspired by Richard Miller, how about trying the craft yourself with ceramicist Sarah Monk? No experience is required to join Sarah as she hand builds her bug houses with air-drying clay. All you need to do is purchase your pack of clay, tools and templates. The workshop starts at 2pm on Saturday the 27th of March but be sure to order your kit by the 22nd so that it all arrives in time.
Why not also join paper sculpture artist Jennifer Collier as she takes you through her process of creating elegant paper flowers? Jennifer is well known for her delicate and unique sculptures crafted from recycled textiles, paper and with embroidered details. On Friday the 26th of March find out what beautiful things you never knew you could create from the ordinary, everyday piece of paper.
https://luciesheridanshop.com/collections/live-portraits-via-zoom-part-of-digital-craft-festival
4. Meet the Maker: Live on Instagram
Friday 26th – 28th March, 16:00
By Digital Craft Festival
We are back again at the Digital Craft Festival (there is so much to choose from)! Every day of the festival, without having to enter a zoom password at all, you can access the free Meet the Maker live chats at 4pm on the @craftfestival Instagram page. Organiser Sarah James will be chatting to lots of the brilliant artisans who are exhibiting virtually at the show.
5. Rubbish Portraits via Zoom with Lucie Sheridan
Saturday 27th March, bookings taken from 11:45
By Digital Craft Festival
Live portraits help make the Digital Arts Festival feel a little bit closer to that in-person fair that we miss. From 11:45am on Saturday the 27th of March you can book a slot to have your portrait painted live over zoom by Illustrator Lucie Sheridan.
The session lasts 10 minutes long and accommodates up to 4 members of your household or ‘bubble’. Take a look at the ironically-named @rubbishportraits on Instagram and you will see that these charming inky illustrations are far from rubbish and accurately capture the subject’s personality in the very short time it takes to make them!
https://luciesheridanshop.com/collections/live-portraits-via-zoom-part-of-digital-craft-festival
6. Craft Conversation with Craftivist Collective founder, Sarah Corbett
Sunday 28th March, 15:00 – 16:00
By Digital Craft Festival
Sarah Corbett has been an activist and professional campaigner for over a decade, inspiring people to use craft as a gentle, yet effective form of activism, sharing resources and creating community through her organisation Craftivist Collective. Sarah’s TED talk ‘Activism needs Introverts’ has been viewed over 1 million times on TED.com. The conversation will be live via zoom, hosted by author and public speaker Mark Shayler, and will feature a section where you will have the opportunity to ask Sarah about anything Craftivist.
7. Create Day 2021
Date announced on the 1st of March @createday2021
By Crafts Council & The Design Museum
Last but certainly not least, we can’t wait to see what exciting collaborations, talks, events and exhibitions this year’s Create Day 2021 event has to offer. If last year is anything to go by, with a Jessica McCormack & Emilia Wickstead collaboration, talks from the V&A, Harris Tweed and many amazing artisans, this year’s event is going to be full of fascinating insights into the world of craft. And we’ve only mentioned the UK! You can delve into their archive of content from artisans worldwide at createday.org.
We know we are going to love this packed programme of events, but there’s even more! Visit Digital Craft Festival ( https://www.digitalcraftfestival.co.uk/ ) for their full programme of events and to meet and buy from the exhibitors (yes, we’ll be there and delighted to be showcasing our kits). Follow @createday2021 and @collectartfair for updates on their events too!
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