News

The organiser of a highly successful portfolio of national contemporary craft events, Sarah James MBE, has announced that she's to launch a brand-new event in her hometown of Cardigan. Craft Festival Wales will be held over three days at Cardigan Castle from 6–8 September 2024.

The announcement was made at a photo call with Ceredigion County Council and the event’s key partners - including Cardigan Castle, Mwldan, Oriel Myrddin, Llantarnam Grange, National Wool Museum, Make it in Wales, Coleg Sir Gar, QEST (The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust) and Sea & Slate.

90 makers from across Wales & the UK

Craft Festival Wales – which is funded by Arts Council of Wales, Ceredigion County Council and QEST – will showcase an exceptional hand-picked selection of approximately 90 makers from across Wales and the UK – including jewellery makers, potters, furniture makers, textile artists, glassmakers and many more – all selling their finely made unique products directly to the public.

The event welcomes people of all ages and offers a programme of exciting craft workshops, demonstrations and masterclasses by some of the UK’s most prestigious makers. Over the weekend at the castle, there'll be a Children’s Craft Tent, supported by Llantarnam Grange Arts Centre, National Wool Museum, Coleg Sir Gar and Small World Theatre – offering children the opportunity to get creative while having lots of fun.

Four weeks' of satellite events

As well as the weekend activities, Craft Festival Wales presents satellite events throughout the town, running for four weeks. Highlights include a ceramics exhibition – Significant Forms – with museum quality ceramics from Wales presented at Oriel Canfas and curated by West Wales potter, Peter Bodenham; a Youth Project with QEST and Small World Theatre; a Sculpture Trail presented by Coleg Sir Gar in the castle grounds; The Capital of Craft LIVE – talks in the Manor House – and the Craft Festival Town Trail with six emerging makers presenting new work inspired by the National Museum’s Collection at six venues curated by Oriel Myrddin. Trail venues are Mwldan, The Albion by Fforest, Crwst, Cardigan Bay Brownies, Awen Teifi, and Make it in Wales.

Craft Festival Wales is part of a portfolio of events organised by Sarah James and Nina Fox, who also organise the multi-award-winning Craft Festival Bovey Tracey and Craft Festival Cheltenham. Craft Festival was founded in 2004 and is a non-profit making organisation, which celebrates its 20th Anniversary this year. The event has grown from 2,000 visitors to over 10,000 since its inception, as well as becoming one of the most prestigious craft events in Europe.

Calling all makers

Applications are invited from makers to take part in the event and the deadline for these is 6pm on 5 April. For details and to apply, click here.

Further details of Craft Festival’s Wales programme will be announced soon. For information, including details of exhibitors, click here.

EVENT DETAILS
WHERE: Cardigan Castle, Green Street, Cardigan SA43 1JA
WHEN: 6-8 September 2024 (10am-5pm)
TICKETS: Adult daily ticket – £7; Adult 3-day weekend ticket – £13; Accompanied children under 18  – free; Carers  – free
WEB: www.craftfestival.co.uk/Wales