The HI-Arts Craft Development Summer maker event ‘Selling the Sizzle’ on Friday 3 June 2011 has something for everyone with an inspiring range of speakers all exploring the selling of craft.

Our keynote speakers are Prof. Georgina Follett OBE, Deputy Principal of the University of Dundee and Dr Louise Valentine from V&A at Dundee who will be talking about the exciting plans for a new V&A on the waterfront of Dundee which will be an international centre for design and what this means for craft in Scotland. How we communicate will be explored by textile artist Deirdre Nelson who will discuss her experiences using social media and how it has influenced her work, and Carol Sinclair will explore how to talk about your work through an informal and fun networking session.

Everyone who loves craft thinks about starting a shop at sometime, but is craft-tailing as easy and as much fun as we expect? Steph Marsden, who opened her beautiful shop Craft House Concept in Edinburgh a year ago, and Carrie Maclennan and Clare Nicolson of Made in the Shade in Glasgow who opened the Maisonette in 2009 and run regular pop-up shops, will be talking about their approach and experiences. On a larger selling scale, Maggie Broadley of West Kilbride Craft Town, will talk about how they become a craft town , what it is, and what it means for makers and shoppers. Location is always important for selling, and Emma Blain from Shetland will be talking about the collective of textile artists Text-Isles and how they are spreading the word beyond the island about their fabulous work.

As we all love craft, we’re asking everyone who comes along on the day to bring one small piece of their work with them so we can create an exclusive one day pop-up exhibition showcasing Highland craft. If you’re not a maker, bring along a favourite piece by a Highland maker instead! And in case our exciting speakers, pop-up exhibition, free lunch, and brilliant networking opportunities still aren’t enough to tempt you along, we’ll also be talking about our other initiatives and launching our new award for retailing.

And then, as a final flourish, we have an exhibition opening of the new furniture by Nick Ross developed through our Making Progress scheme, which takes place alongside the Turned & Twisted, an exhibition of intriguing and innovative work from the Crafts Council Collection by Highland Council, both at Inverness Museum & Art Gallery.

This day is open to everyone who is part of the craft sector in the Highlands and we hope you will come along.

To view the details of the programme and to book your FREE place today please complete the booking form at http://www.hi-arts.co.uk/hi-arts-craft-events.htm (see the ‘For Download’ section at the side of the web page) and return it to Avril Souter at HI-Arts by Friday 27 May 2011.

Email Avril on avril@hi-arts.co.uk or post the form to Avril Souter, HI-Arts Craft Development, Suites 4 & 5, Fourth Floor, Ballantyne House, 84 Academy Street, Inverness, IV1 1LU.

Source: HI-Arts Craft Development