The Future of Craft 2022

Oxo Tower Wharf, Future Icons, and Design-Nation partner to bring back 'The Future of Craft' at Bargehouse. Expect a carefully selected line-up of innovative and forward-thinking craft organisations, practitioners, and collectives along with an engaging talks programme and demonstrations from master craftspeople, all under one roof.

Across four floors of the visually appealing, raw and industrial Bargehouse, visitors to The Future of Craft will discover new projects, installations and collaborations from over 40 pioneering makers, working in a range of craft disciplines: ceramics, furniture, interior accessories, lighting, metalwork, textiles and more.

This year, visitors will also be treated to a 4 day programme of free talks and maker demonstrations. Highlights include a panel discussion with podcaster Grant Gibson of Material Matters and large scale marbling demonstrations from Nat Maks. A must-see event during London Craft Week 2022, The Future of Craft will provide an insightful, interactive and intelligent exhibit, fostering learning and encouraging debate around the many approaches to craft and its future potential.

Free Talks Programme:

• Friday 13 May

12pm: Joint Endeavours - Panel Discussion on Creative Collaboration: Book here

2pm: Preparing to Scale & Outsource Manufacture for Design & Craft Business with Jenny Parker and Cecily Vessey: Book here

• Satuday 14 May

2pm: The Craft of Conservation with Soteria Conservation's Jessica Burgess and artist Anna McDowell: Book here

4:30pm: Materials & Makers with Grant Gibson, Material Matters: Book here

• Sunday 15 May

11am: Making Conversation: Live Podcast Recording: Book here

Maker Demonstations

No need to book, just turn up!

Thursday 12 May

12pm-3pm:

• LUCIE SUMMERS: Lucie will be showing the results of her unusual practice of printing onto plastic during. Lucie uses a combination of dye and heat with waste heat with waste plastic to create beautiful, colourful ‘sequins’ which are then sewn onto a background. Lucie will show the journey from humble milk carton to finished samples and talk through each process required to create her unique pieces. Visitors will be able to sort through the prepared plastic and choose their own sequins and stitch them to the wool felt Lucie will be working on during the demonstration.
• VICKY COWEN & KENDALL CLARKE: Kendall and Vicky will be weaving with paper yarn on an 8 shaft table loom, demonstrating different weave patterns.They will be there to talk about their work, process and inspiration. 
• EMILY SMITH: Jeweller and Metalsmith Emily will be demonstrating how she creates the tiny figures for her collection, Make Jewellery Not War

3pm-6pm:

• BRIDGET BAILEY: Bridget Bailey will demonstrate making her grasses for her flora and fauna artworks using feathers inspired by fly tying and millinery techniques. Bridget wants to showcase the idea of giving these traditional skills a new angle in the work she is creating now.
• LARK & BOWER: Come and try your hand at some off-loom weaving with Sarah Ward of Lark and Bower, using colourful yarns, a needle and thread and a piece of wood!

Sunday 15 May

2pm - 5pm:

• EMILY JO GIBBS: Emily will be demonstrating how she layers hand stitches translucent fabrics to make her delicate appliqué pictures.
• NAT MAKS: Take a look behind the scenes of the traditional Japanese Art of marbling ’Suminagashi’ translated as ‘ink floating’. Natascha will be introducing you to the inspiration behind her most popular colour palettes of her hand marbled wallpaper designs.
• IKUKO IWAMOTO: Ikuko demonstrates how she creates her dotted, thorn and spiky surface decoration with porcelain
• BRONWYN HIGGINGS: Bronwyn demonstrates her signature sgraffito style, showcasing her process from illustration to ceramic art.