Design-Nation wanted to ask the East Anglia hub a few questions about their way of working, projects etc. Design-Nation started with asking:
How many makers and disciplines are involved in East Anglia cluster hub?
East Anglia Hub answered:
14; Blacksmith; Leszek Sikon, Ceramics; Kate Welton, Holly Mai Burton, Embroidery/mixed media; Caroline Hyde Brown, Felted & Surface Textile Design; Selina Rose, Glass; Ruth Lyne, Resin jewellery/pieces; Amy Leigh, Product designer; Renata Aminian, Silversmith; Suzanne Seed, Woodturner; Jane Sedgwick, Woven textiles; Pamela Print, Lizzie Kimbley, Dawn Bache and Chloe Scott.
D-N: How often do you meet up online or live?
E-A: Once per month with occasional themed meetings in-between, which has included discussions/presentations on selling online and grant applications.
Online studio tours started during the lockdowns and we’re planning to recommence with these soon.
Last summer some members met in Diss to visit designermakers21 studios and exhibitions at the Corn Hall. As the group formed during lock down it was great to have an in-person meet up, and we have plans for more this year.
D-N: Are you working together on any projects or have any plans for projects?
E-A: No projects, but we do have a 3-day creative retreat planned in Suffolk in June this year, which will be a great opportunity to really make strong connections within the group. This may lead onto potential collaborations or exhibitions going forward.
D-N: Are there some collaborations between makers and disciplines?
E-A: Jane Sedgwick and Pamela Print – a potential future collaboration on a sustainability project combining Pamela’s wool warp waste from her woven pieces with Jane’s wood from the woodland she manages.
D-N: What are/were the challenges and positives about working this way with a large group?
E-A: Meeting by zoom has enabled the group to become accessible for members based across four counties. The group was a really important network for members during lockdowns and has become a supportive space to share skills and different business experiences.
Now we’re out of lockdowns, time is limited for a lot of members, so we’re looking to offer different meeting times to make it more flexible enabling different members to connect to the group – i.e, one month an evening zoom, the next a morning option.
