Press Release
Thursday 15 December 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Prestigious creative agency and membership organisation Design-Nation has been awarded almost £80,000 in Research and Development funding from Arts Council England to sustain a fifteen month period of development.
This period of development will commence in early 2017 and allows Design-Nation to undertake significant sector research and to create new opportunities for its designer-maker members, and to launch at least two new showcases. With its sister organisations Design Factory and The National Centre for Craft & Design, the Design-Nation team will explore new models of operation and partnership that will be most effective in supporting their portfolio of illustrious designer-makers in creating new products, exploring new processes and researching new markets.
Clare Edwards, who runs Design-Nation, Design Factory and The National Centre for Craft & Design says, “We are delighted that through this grant the Arts Council is recognising our efforts in support of British-based craft and design people. Design-Nation has a great history and many fantastic supporters and partners in the design sector. We look forward to delivering our exciting new programme across the UK and will be announcing our first new showcase early in 2017.”
Notes to Editors
About Design-Nation
Design-Nation was founded almost twenty years ago by the late Peta Levi MBE, a writer, design champion and curator, who previously founded the prestigious talent-spotting showcase New Designers in the 1980s. Design-Nation offers a one stop destination for retailers, manufacturers and press together with industry professionals who want to commission, invest and source Great British design.
Design-Nation is positioned as the premier level of membership network for designer-makers in the UK, with both a national and international profile. Membership is selected by peers and industry professionals and is open to all practices of Craft, Product and Design in the UK and Ireland. Members have access to benefits, subsidised exhibition opportunities and group networking within Design-Nation. Friends of the organisation include Decorex International, New Designers and The Barbican.
About Design Factory
Design Factory is the UK’s leading creative agency for the support and development of craft and design practice and was founded in 2005. With over 200 members Design Factory promotes artistic integrity, raises the standard of craft and design and commercially supports designer-makers through a renowned programme of development opportunities, including: one-to-one advice; critical reviews; events; group exhibition opportunities here and overseas; peer support; training and CPD; mentoring; pop-up shop opportunities; and marketing.
About The National Centre for Craft & Design
The National Centre for Craft & Design is the largest gallery in the UK dedicated to the celebration, support and promotion of national and international contemporary craft and design. The Centre, which will celebrate its 15th anniversary in 2018, aims to stimulate greater understanding of contemporary craft and design and provide enriching arts and cultural experiences for everyone through a dynamic programme of high quality exhibitions, participatory learning, events and retail. The Centre, together with Design-Nation and Design Factory, is a cultural service from North Kesteven District Council, operated under contract by Leisure in the Community Ltd.
Image of Design-Nation showcase at Decorex shows work by (clockwise from top left) Michael Ruh, Linda Bloomfield, Anna Gravelle, Amy Cushing, Rosemaryrose and Heidi Harrington. Photo by Jim Ellam.
