CRAFTCO

1987 - ?

The Great Eastern Craft Co-operative, or CRAFTCO, began in 1987 when ten local craftspeople formed a co-operative and opened a shop and gallery at 40a Market Place, Southwold, Suffolk, founders included toymaker Ron Fuller, potters Clive Davies, Sophia Milburn, Maureen Minchin and Mark Titchiner and hand-painted and printed fabric designer Jacky Linney. Initially the moving spirit was sculptor Alice Palser, but Sophie Milburn was key to keeping the enterprise going in providing a flow of item for sale, staffing the shop and helping to compile monthly accounts. Operating initially from alongside a travel agent in the marketplace, the group took a mortgage on a freehold property at 40A High Street in 1993 which was originally a forge, which is now their shop where it continues to flourish. CRAFTCO is an outlet for contemporary crafts and applied arts from East Anglia, with changing exhibitions in their upstairs gallery. With around one hundred associate members, a core group runs and organises the shop and meet monthly to discuss co-op business and consider newly submitted works. Their aim is to provide a permanent showcase for contemporary applied arts from East Anglia and are always interested in encouraging new makers. Suffolk artists who have exhibited with Craftco include Clare Bailey, Hilary Bartholomew, Penny Bhadresa, Clare Curtis, Moss Fuller, Rebecca Moss Guyver, Claire Halsey; Spadge Hopkins, Elaine Nason, Alice Palser, Suzi Pye, Lesley Pyke, Ben Quail, Loesje Vere Sanders; Claudia Silva and Janet Watson.
Website: http://www.craftco.co.uk

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Works by This Artist