Did you know that hand-stitched cricket ball making, gold beating, and mouth-blown sheet glass making are extinct in the UK? According to the Red List of Endangered Crafts, dozens of traditional skills are on the verge of disappearing forever unless urgent action is taken and these skills can be passed on!
GRIT Studios in Stockport is stepping up to help change that narrative by launching Crafted Futures ~ a week-long celebration designed to shine a spotlight on the heritage crafts that built Stockport, the makers keeping them alive today, and the young people who could carry these skills into the future.
Running from Monday 24 to Sunday 30 November across multiple venues, including Where The Light Gets In and Runaway Brewery, Crafted Futures will bring together hands-on workshops, talks, demonstrations and a major public mural to reconnect residents with the town’s cultural identity and highlight the exciting career pathways in traditional trades.
“Crafted Futures is about showing that heritage and innovation are not opposites ~ they can coexist beautifully,” said John Macaulay, co-founder of GRIT Studios. “Stockport’s past is alive in its architecture, its crafts and its people, and this project is a chance to celebrate that while inspiring a new generation to get involved.”
Supported by the National Trust Heritage Skills Team and an impressive roster of local makers, the programme showcases the crafts that shaped the town ~ and those shaping its future.
Among the guest craftspeople are signwriter Damien Whyatt ~ who created signage for Netflix’s House of Guinness series ~ and mosaic artist Tracey Cartledge, who helped restore the 200-year-old mosaics inside Manchester Town Hall.
Martin Mitchell from the National Trust Heritage Skills Team said: “Me and my team are really looking forward to running this course and giving young people a hands-on introduction to stone masonry. It’s a great opportunity to show just how many exciting pathways there are within heritage crafts, and hopefully inspire the next generation of makers.”
Throughout the week, GRIT’s two Stockport town-centre studios will host a series of workshops for residents and young people, offering practical experience in stone masonry, mosaic restoration, signwriting, upholstery and leatherwork. Local heritage enthusiasts involved in the programme include Sophia Baresse (vintage clothing), Tom Longden (ceramics), Martin Lister (metalwork), Peter Haymes (Stockport Council), Chris Polin (luthier), Cherry Chung (willow weaving) and Liam Hopkins (Lazarian).
A major highlight is the creation of a large-scale heritage-themed mural at the GRIT Stockport site, painted by acclaimed artist Oskar. Visible to thousands of rail users and motorists each day, the mural will act as a bold reminder that Stockport is a place where the past is ever-present ~ and ever-evolving.
Other features include two ‘Meet the Makers’ events across Stockport, a Stockport Heritage Mapping Handbook; four taster workshops; and a Heritage Open Day spanning both GRIT Studios locations.
Crafted Futures also arrives at a crucial moment. With the number of young people not in education, employment or training continuing to rise, the programme seeks to raise awareness of fulfilling pathways into heritage crafts.
All events are free, and places can be booked online. This project has been part funded by UK government.
For the full schedule and to sign up, visit: https://www.
