October 2006 will see the launch of a major international craft event.

This new event will replace Chelsea Crafts Fair as the UK’s principal selling event for design-led contemporary craft by individual designer-makers, and is exclusively for the promotion and sale of contemporary craft objects by those who design and make them.

Somerset House is a thriving cultural destination in London. This magnificent 18th century building houses the celebrated collections of the Courtauld Institute of Art Gallery, Gilbert Collection and Hermitage Rooms, providing a familiar venue for the loyal Chelsea audience and an opportunity to introduce diverse new audiences to the sector. The location is easy to reach by public transport and is close to the retail areas of Covent Garden and London’s vibrant theatre district.

The event will be hosted within a high quality pavilion in the beautiful Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court of Somerset House on the Strand in central London and will accommodate around 150 designer-makers in each week, approximately 30% more than Chelsea Crafts Fair.

Drawing on the success of Chelsea Crafts Fair, the event will present the very best in ceramics, glass, metal, jewellery, furniture, textiles, paper and wood. It will feature national and international designer-makers, providing a launch pad for emerging talent as well as raising the profile of established names. Visitors will expect to find a consistently high standard of innovative contemporary crafts at the event. Those exhibiting are expected to demonstrate creativity and individuality in their designs, as well as technical skills in the production of their work. Being able to meet the makers themselves is an important element of the event and those selected to exhibit are expected to be available at their stand for the greater part of the event.

There will be a variety of stand sizes available to encourage those with larger scale work to participate. The design of the pavilion will be sympathetic to the content of the event and transparent panels and roof will also allow views of the beautiful buildings of Somerset House.

Exhibitors and visitors will be able to make use of the excellent facilities within the buildings during the event. An education programme of talks, tours and workshops organised in partnership with Learning at Somerset House will enhance the visitor experience and add to the understanding and enjoyment of the work on display within the pavilion.

Presented by the Crafts Council in partnership with Somerset House Trust the location will be Somerset House, Strand, London, WC2 http://www.somerset-house.org.uk and the dates will be week one: 3 to 8 October 2006
week two: 10 to 15 October 2006.

Applications outlining the eligibility, selection process, image format and costs for this new event will be available to down load or receive in a hard format from late January. Please visit the website http://www.craftscouncil.org.uk/newevent  and subscribe to receive your hard copy.

Please note: In 2006 we will be accepting digital images only for the application. Slides will no longer be accepted.
The closing date for applications is 6pm Wednesday 1st March 2006.