News

Award-winning Craft Festival Bovey Tracey will return to the idyllic parkland setting of Mill Marsh Park, Bovey Tracey, Devon from 9–11 June for it's 19th edition.

NEW: 'Heritage Crafts,' championed by Jay Blades of The Repair Shop, will present a collection of makers drawn from the 'Red List of Endangered Crafts'. The feature will celebrate these fascinating skills and throw a spotlight on crafts that are in decline, but can be saved.

Rare crafts on demonstration will include specialist makers in wall paper making, willow furniture making, lithography and fairground painting.

"Craft Festival is one of the best attended craft events in the UK with a well informed audience, mindful of the issues of the craft industry,” said Daniel Carpenter, Executive Director, Heritage Crafts.

Meet the maker

200 of the finest makers from all corners of the UK, handpicked for their quality and originality, will gather in the Dartmoor town. Visitors can experience craft demonstrations, a showcase of start-up business, adult workshops, children's activities, film screenings, talks, music and feasting. Take a birds-eye view, in a brand-new short film, of one of the UK's most loved craft events. Drink in the the quality, scale and atmosphere of the event.

"We attract over 500 applicants to exhibit at Craft Festival. It's a challenging and rewarding task for our independent panel to select just 200 to take part," said Sarah James, Director of Craft Festival. "The quality of application is phenomenal."

"For 19 years, we've created a retail platform for the finest makers, and a launch pad for new crafts business in our showcase 'Start-Up.' Craft Festival also features an education programmes for adults and children with workshops led by professional makers. The fun, action packed children's programme aims to inspire younger people to get creative, get hands on and try out a new craft skill," she added.

Over 8,000 visitors visited Craft Festival Bovey Tracey in 2022.

An eclectic programme of craft workshops for adults and younger people is hosted. by professional makers to encourage participation and deeper understanding of making.

A free children's craft activity programme encourages creative experimentation led by makers and educators including Jim Parkyn, local schools and inspirational craft organisations.

During Lockdown, Craft Festival launched The Capital of Craft Podcast and Find a Maker, a curated directory of new and established makers, galleries and craft organisations, all chosen for quality and originality.

For more information, visit www.craftfestival.co.uk/boveytracey.