'the shape of things' was a national craft initiative which supported culturally diverse artists to make and show significant new work; which developed new audiences for contemporary craft; and which stimulated debate about diversity in craft. This site provides a lasting legacy and archive for the main programme which finished in June 2012

Photograph of Sophie Mutevelian the shape of things exhibition at Flow Gallery London
Photograph of Seiko Kinoshita installing work at Bilston Craft Gallery
Photograph of Maggie Scott Private View New Walk Museum Art Gallery
Photograph of Rezia Wahid work in progress
Photograph of Tanvi Kant Touchstones Rochdale

Featured Film

Photograph of Chien Wei Changs Masterclass

Chien-Wei Chang Masterclass

Find out more...

Featured Page

Crafts Study Centre

Find out more...

Photograph of rosanfilmgrab

films: Rosa Nguyen

interview for 'Recording the crafts' archive...

Watch now

Photograph of David Kay

films: David Kay

interview for 'Recording the Crafts' archive...

Watch now

Photograph of Alinah Azadeh film grab

films: Alinah Azadeh

interview for 'Recording the Crafts' archive...

Watch now

Photograph of Acquisition of Craft

films: Acquisition of craft

a debate about buying and collecting craft...

Watch now

Photograph of Audience at New Walk Museum Art Gallery for Maggie Scott in converstaion with Bim Adewunmi

archive: Nuts and Bolts

details about 'the shape of things' from stats to the audience development framework...

Read more

Photograph of Launch of The Shape of Things

films: Launch of 'the shape of things'

in 2010, chaired by Bonnie Greer...

Watch now

Photograph of Maggie Scott Private View New Walk Museum Art Gallery

exhibitions: New Walk Museum & Art Gallery

the exhibitions extended our crafts audiences and our audiences from diverse communities...

Read more

Photograph of Tanvi Kant Touchstones Rochdale

exhibitions: Touchstones Rochdale

has a history of exhibiting work by Black and Asian artists and in the past has shown work by...

Read more

Photograph of Rezia Wahid work in progress

exhibitions: Crafts Study Centre

Wahid's work is intensely personal. It communicates instantly her need to express...

Read more

Photograph of Sophie Mutevelian the shape of things exhibition at Flow Gallery London

exhibitions: Flow Gallery

the exhibition here meant that the initiative could engage with a privately run gallery and...

Read more

Photograph of Seiko Kinoshita installing work at Bilston Craft Gallery

exhibitions: Bilston Crafts Gallery

the experiment is running now, the reactants and their medium are selected...

Read more

Photograph of Rosa Nguyen Bristol Museum Art Gallery

exhibitions: Bristol Museum and Art Gallery

both sets of work are extremely moving and beautiful. An exhibition to engage both the emotions and the intellect...

Read more

Photograph of Chien Wei Changin conversation

artists: Chien-Wei Chang

I want to prove that craft can step out of its domestic environment to engage with a wider public audience...

Read more

Photograph of Maggie Scott

artists: Maggie Scott

is informed by a passionate engagement with gender and race politics...

Read more

Photograph of Alinah Azadeh portrait

artists: Alinah Azadeh

this has given me time to examine the cultural legacy of my Iranian heritage and how that makes itself visible in my practice...

Read more

Photograph of Halima Cassell in her studio

artists: Halima Cassell

just like the differently coloured and contrastingly textured clays hewn from the Earth we are all of one substance, despite our superficial differences...

Read more

Photograph of Chien Wei Changs Masterclass

films: Chien-Wei Chang's Masterclass

with 3D Design Craft Students at De Montfort University, Leicester...

Watch now

Photograph of Tanvi Kant portrait

films: Tanvi Kant

at Origin 2007...

Watch now

Photograph of Chien Wei Chang New Walk Museum Art Gallery

archive: Blogs

when I record words, I create something; a tangible paragraph that no one else can replicate...

Read more

Photograph of Disruptive Difference Symposium

archive: Disruptive Difference Symposium

I was introduced to new ways of thinking and practices, a fact that was amazing...

Read more

Photograph of Rosa Nguyen in her studio

artists: Rosa Nguyen

describes how the fusion of her Vietnamese and French background and cultural experience...

Read more

Photograph of Raimi

archive: Essays

the role of exhibition in provoking thought is at the core of achieving the ambitions for 'the shape of things'...

Read more

Photograph of Seiko Kinoshita in her studio

artists: Seiko Kinoshita

came to the UK to follow her dream of becoming an artist...

Read more

Photograph of Taslim Martin installing Rami at Touchstone Rochdale

films: Taslim Martin

installing 'Raimi' for his exhibition at Touchstones Rochdale...

Watch now

Photograph of An interview with Taslim Martin

films: Taslim Martin

interview in his studio on the eve of his show at Touchstones Rochdale...

Watch now

Photograph of Alinah Azadeh Bristol City Museum Art Gallery

films: 'The Gifts'

a quick tour of Alinah Azadeh's exhibition at Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery...

Watch now

Photograph of Tanvi Kant portait

artists: Tanvi Kant

upholds the re-use, repair and value of handwork with materials sourced from her family and friends...

Read more

Photograph of Timelapse installation of Chien Wei Changs exhibition

films: Chien-Wei Chang installation

timelapse of his exhibition installation at New Walk Museum & Art Gallery...

Watch now

Photograph of Seiko Kinoshita at work

films: Seiko Kinoshita

interviewed in her studio...

Watch now

Photograph of Halima Cassell in her studio

films: Halima Cassell

interviewed in her studio...

Watch now

Photograph of Maggie Scott in conversation with Bim Adewunmi New Walk Museum Art Gallery

films: Maggie Scott

in conversation with Bim Adewunmi, New Walk Museum & Art Gallery...

Watch now

Photograph of Maggie Scott talks about her work

films: Maggie Scott

discusses her work and members of the public talk about its impact on them...

Watch now

Photograph of Taslim Martin in his studio

artists: Taslim Martin

is interested in the sculptural potential of functional objects and investigating the notion of cultural identity and the artist...

Read more

Photograph of Rezia Wahid at Disruptive Difference

artists: Rezia Wahid

we met just as I had started wearing the headscarf and was being seen as a 'muslim artist', which I am, but not just that...

Read more

Photograph of crafts cover

archive: Press

coverage was generated locally, regionally and nationally...

Read more

X

Our website uses cookies. They help us understand how visitors use our website so we can give you the best experience possible.

By continuing to browse this site or choosing to close this message, you give consent for cookies to be used.

View Privacy and Cookie Settings