All change at Manchester Craft & Design Centre

Manchester Craft & Design Centre

Much has happened these past few months, all starting with my husband being taken into hospital before Christmas. Luckily he is fine and back at work, but the last 4 months have flown by in a bit of a blur. 

The Crafts Council UK Hothouse programme drew to a close, although I am now privileged to be working with my Hothouse Mentor Yvonne Kulawgowski and Hothouse Buddy Marianne Anderson. This week I moved out of Studio 21, Designers Eclectic and my work will now have a new home next door in Studio 22, Manchester Craft & Design Centre. I also have 2 exhibitions and the Contemporary Craft Fair, Devon to create work for, all of which are happening in June 2012!

First up is a ring to celebrate Manchester Craft & Design Centre's 30th Anniversary - "Past, Present & Future Makers Celebrate 30 Years at Manchester Craft & Design Centre". This will run alongside the "Collecting History" exhibition (lead curating Artist Lucy Harvey), from 28 April 2012 to 30 June 2012.

Rapid Update: Hothouse, GNCCF, Shipley Art Gallery, Made By Hand

Crafts Council UK Hothouse 2011 was officially launched back in September.  It has been amazing so far and the other makers are incredibily talented.  I feel very fortunate to be part of this programme - a feeling which grows more and more with every session I attend.  I cannot recommend enough to other makers, to apply in the future if they get the chance.

Sound Wear Red Hat by Hanna Nielsen - Hothouse North Cohort

In October I exhibited at the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair 2011 (GNCCF) at Spinningfields, Manchester.  It was at a new venue this year at Quay House - the best aspect of this being the fabulous display in the reception area showcasing the Great Northern Graduate and One Year On makers.  This space was sponsored by Manchester based interior and design specialists Ferrious, curated by Kelda Savage (Ferrious), and it looked fantastic.

GNCCF 2011 - Great Northern Graduates and Ferrious

The GNCCF was a great chance to meet a new audience and talk with galleries and makers.  I was mighty pleased to be awarded a prize for Best Innovative Maker (sponsored by The Plantation Rug Company), which I will gaze at fondly when weeks worth of experiments have  all gone pear shaped.

Jane Dzisiewski - Best Innovative Maker

My work was also selected for the new Shipley Art Gallery exhibition 'Christmas Present', which showcases work from 11 artists, who were all nominated by craft experts from across the UK.  Therefore a big thank you goes to Kate Day, Director at Manchester Craft & Design Centre, for putting my name forward for this opportunity.  The show runs from now until 24th December 2011.

Jane Dzisiewski - Christmas Present / The Shipley Art Gallery 2011

Finally, this week I am off to South Wales for Made By Hand 2011 at Tredegar House, Newport and I will be one of 150 selected makers exhibiting.  The Fair runs from Friday 2nd December until Sunday 4th December.

Hothouse 2011 Crafts Council UK - via the Design Initiative

Design Initiative

It is now official, (see above), as opposed to when I blurted out the news at the end of the June - (please read here).

I am extremely grateful to have been offered this amazing opportunity, and very much looking forward to the induction day in London next week.

I have been selected for the Hothouse 2011 North cohort, but there is also a South West Textiles and a Goldsmiths' Institute Cohort.

Jane Dzisiewski - Crafts Council Hothouse 2011 North Cohort

Full list of all the Crafts Council UK Hohouse 2011 participants with links where applicable:

Amy Bear, Aimee Betts, Eleanor Bolton, Emma Bradbury, Kevin Brook, Hannah Felicity Dennis, Jane Dzisiewski, Amelia Fever, Lucy Jane Foakes, Helen Foot, Jasmin Giles, Anna Glasbrook, Mahtab Hanna, Zehava Hashai-Spellman, Tortie Hoare, Anna Collette Hunt, Zoe Lloyd, Hanna Nielsen, Elizabeth Peers, Carly Petit-Taylor, Helen Smith, Rhian Solomon, Thorody, Ellen Thomas, Victoria Walker, Sarah Warsop and Janice Zethraeus.