About The Guild
The Makers Guild in Wales is a national applied art and craft membership organisation based in Cardiff, Wales. The organisation exists to engage and inspire audiences as a centre of excellence for Craft and Applied Art, and to champion Welsh Craft Makers. Our award winning gallery, Craft in the Bay is located on the “Flourish” in Cardiff Bay, opposite Wales Millennium Centre and close to the iconic Senedd Building. Our gallery is the regional hub for Craft and Applied Art in the Capital of Wales. Our gallery houses exhibitions of work by our membership of Welsh craft makers alongside a curated programme of the finest National and International craft and applied art. We have developed well-regarded programme of community craft workshops and community work.
The Guild became an Incorporated Charity in 2006 progressing out of the Guilds Co-operative origins when set up 1984. Our Charitable Aims and our co-operative ethos make us a unique organisation within Wales.
In June 2012, the Guild was used as an exemplar study into co-operative consortia by the Wales Co-operative Centre. Our large annual audiences make us one of the most visited galleries for applied art and craft in Wales.
Craft in the Bay is recognised by Cardiff Council as one of the Capitals most significant Cultural and Heritage destinations . The Gallery is an Award winning Heritage Building, being short-listed for a RIBA award and receiving a 'highly commended' at the British Archaeology Award in 2004 .
Our core purpose is to Inspire, Support and Celebrate.
We have been successfully managing to sustain and maintain our Charitable Objectives for over 34 years, namely:
'The Objects are to advance education for the public benefit in the visual Arts and Crafts in particular but not exclusively by exhibitions of high quality handmade crafts and the provision of workshop programmes'
The Makers Guild in Wales is:
The Guild educates through seeing and learning about contemporary craft, which along with a unique Welsh membership of craft makers, provides opportunities for audiences to experience contemporary applied art and craft through exhibitions, workshops, talks and demonstrations.
Founder Member Molly Curley has curated a project called 'Making Memories - 30 Years of The Makers Guild in Wales' collecting stories and recollections from members of the Guild. You can read some of these HERE
Find out more about the early history of The Makers Guild in Wales as recollected by two of our founding members:
The Guild became an Incorporated Charity in 2006 progressing out of the Guilds Co-operative origins when set up 1984. Our Charitable Aims and our co-operative ethos make us a unique organisation within Wales.
In June 2012, the Guild was used as an exemplar study into co-operative consortia by the Wales Co-operative Centre. Our large annual audiences make us one of the most visited galleries for applied art and craft in Wales.
Craft in the Bay is recognised by Cardiff Council as one of the Capitals most significant Cultural and Heritage destinations . The Gallery is an Award winning Heritage Building, being short-listed for a RIBA award and receiving a 'highly commended' at the British Archaeology Award in 2004 .
Our core purpose is to Inspire, Support and Celebrate.
- Inspiring craft engagement - The Guild inspires engagement and learning about contemporary craft, by providing opportunities for audiences and artists to experience contemporary applied art and craft in Wales.
- Supporting Welsh craft makers- The Guild is a membership organisation of Welsh craft-makers who all share in the Guilds strong co-operative ethos.
- Celebrating craft excellence- Championing high quality hand-made crafts and applied art in Wales both of its members work and of invited National and International Artists and Makers.
We have been successfully managing to sustain and maintain our Charitable Objectives for over 34 years, namely:
'The Objects are to advance education for the public benefit in the visual Arts and Crafts in particular but not exclusively by exhibitions of high quality handmade crafts and the provision of workshop programmes'
The Makers Guild in Wales is:
- A membership organisation based in Cardiff which is unique in championing craft and applied art in the Capital of Wales
- An independent charitable organisation that furthers its aims through exhibitions of high quality hand-made crafts, and a programme of educational workshops and events.
- A thriving, diverse membership organisation of Welsh craft-makers who all share in the Guilds strong co-operative ethos (Membership currently stands at 85)
- A hub for cultural tourism in Cardiff and for craft and applied artists, who make up a large proportion of our visitors (30% according to an ACW funded Audience Wales Visitor Insight study in 2013)
- The home to a Craft based Education and Exhibition programme, both of its members work and of invited National and International artists.
- Has a large and stable audience (101180 in 2015)
- Committed to maintaining its independence, sustainability and of the quality of craft display.
The Guild educates through seeing and learning about contemporary craft, which along with a unique Welsh membership of craft makers, provides opportunities for audiences to experience contemporary applied art and craft through exhibitions, workshops, talks and demonstrations.
Founder Member Molly Curley has curated a project called 'Making Memories - 30 Years of The Makers Guild in Wales' collecting stories and recollections from members of the Guild. You can read some of these HERE
Find out more about the early history of The Makers Guild in Wales as recollected by two of our founding members:
OUr maker members
The Guild is a membership organisation with over 85 Wales-based maker-members. Our membership is growing each year and so we are always on the look out for new talent to join our thriving community of makers. Anyone interested in applying to become a maker member can find out more here apply to become a maker member. |
our trustees
The Makers Guild in Wales is a incorporated charity and is overseen by a Board of Trustees. The board consists of 12 Trustees who govern through the organisations Governing Documents. The Board meet 6 times a year and oversee the organisation through five standing committees - Building, Finance, Marketing, Education and Exhibitions, Membership. A small dedicated team of staff then run the organisation along with a large group of volunteers |
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The Makers Guild in Wales is a Registered Charity
Reg No. 1113675 Registered in England and Wales as a company limited by guarantee. Reg No. 05608888 View our details on the Charity Commission website. |
The Makers Guild is an Incorporated Charity, the registered business address is:
The Makers Guild in Wales The Flourish Lloyd George Avenue Cardiff CF10 4QH |