Matthew Pennycook MP and Crafts Council visit to Second Floor Studios & Arts
First Published: 11/04/2016
Arranged by the Crafts Council, Second Floor Studios & Arts were delighted to host a visit to the studios at Harrington Way from Matthew Pennycook MP for Greenwich and Woolwich, Richard Edwards, Relationship Manager, Visual Arts - Arts Council England, Annie Warburton, Creative Director - Crafts Council and Fiona Moorhead, Head of Marketing - Crafts Council.
A productive discussion took place around the current provision of affordable studio space locally in the borough. Current impacts on the sector with increasing commercial pressures, property and land values pan London. Loss of artists and craft maker workspace not being offset by new provision in mixed use developments. The value of the art and craft maker sector in terms of employment, contribution to the UK economy, innovation, education, participation, wellbeing, health and happiness.
Following on from discussions there were three visit to SFSA members in their studios.
Jane Cairns, Ceramics.
Jane is a ceramicist who creates in response to her surroundings. She takes an experimental approach to ceramic processes and materials to create objects with surfaces that appear to carry the traces of time or reflect the colours and textures of neglect.
Helen Carnac, Maker and Curator.
Helen Carnac is a maker and curator who lives and works in London. Drawing, mark-making, the explicit connections between material, process and maker and an emphasis on deliberations and reflections are all central to her practice as a maker and thinker.
David Gates, Object Designer Maker
David Gates designs and makes furniture from his studio workshop. He makes speculative pieces for gallery show, designs and makes bespoke works to commission, and works on public art commissions. His work has a relationship with architecture, drawing on the visual and structural elements of industrial and agricultural buildings.
Matthew Wood, Founder Director - SFSA, Matthew Pennycook MP, Richard Edwards - Arts Council, Annie Warburton, Creative Director - Crafts Council, Fiona Moorhead - Crafts Council, David Gates - maker, Jane Cairns - maker.
