Major new contemporary craft event comes to Cardigan in September
Image shows Sarah James MBE with representatives from Craft Festival Wales’ funders, partners and supporters at Cardigan Castle on Friday 9 February 2024. Photo by Jennie Caldwell.
The organiser of a highly successful portfolio of national contemporary craft events, Sarah James MBE, has announced that she is to launch a brand-new event in her hometown of Cardigan. Craft Festival Wales will be held over three days at Cardigan Castle from 6 – 8 September 2024.
The announcement was made at a photo call with Ceredigion County Council and the event’s key partners, including Cardigan Castle, Mwldan, Oriel Myrddin, Llantarnam Grange, National Wool Museum, Make it in Wales, Coleg Sir Gar, QEST (The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust) and Sea & Slate.
Craft Festival Wales, which is funded by Arts Council of Wales, Ceredigion County Council and QEST, will showcase an exceptional handpicked selection of approximately ninety makers from across Wales and the UK – including jewellery makers, potters, furniture makers, textile artists, glassmakers and many more – all selling their finely made unique products directly to the public.
Craft Festival Wales welcomes people of all ages and offers a programme of exciting craft workshops, demonstrations, and masterclasses by some of the UK’s most prestigious makers. Over the weekend at the castle, there will be a Children’s Craft Tent, supported by Llantarnam Grange Arts Centre, National Wool Museum, Coleg Sir Gar and Small World Theatre – offering children the opportunity to get creative while having lots of fun.
As well as the activity over the weekend, Craft Festival Wales presents satellite events throughout the town, running for 4 weeks. Highlights include a ceramics exhibition, Significant Forms, with museum quality ceramics from Wales presented at Oriel Canfas curated by West Wales potter, Peter Bodenham; a Youth Project with QEST and Small World Theatre, a Sculpture Trail presented by Coleg Sir Gar in the castle grounds; The Capital of Craft LIVE (talks in the Manor House) and the Craft Festival Town Trail with six emerging makers presenting new work inspired by the National Museum’s Collection at six venues curated by Oriel Myrddin. Trail venues are Mwldan, The Albion by Fforest, Crwst, Cardigan Bay Brownies, Awen Teifi, and Make it in Wales.
Craft Festival Wales is part of a portfolio of events organised by Sarah James and Nina Fox, who also organise the multi-award-winning Craft Festival in Bovey Tracey and Craft Festival Cheltenham. Craft Festival was founded in 2004 and is a non-profit making organisation which celebrates its 20th Anniversary in 2024. The event has grown from 2,000 visitors to over 10,000 since it started, and it has become one of the most prestigious craft events in Europe.
Sarah James says: “I’m excited to launch Craft Festival Wales in my beloved hometown of Cardigan. It’s been a long-term ambition to hold an event and, thanks to support from Ceredigion County Council, Arts Council of Wales, and our wonderful partners, we can do so. Craft Festival is a collaborative celebration of making supported by leading arts organisations from Wales and beyond. It presents a great opportunity for brilliant makers to showcase, promote and sell their work, and is a fantastic day out for people of all ages. I really can’t wait for the event in September at the glorious Cardigan Castle.”
Councillor Clive Davies, Cabinet Member for Ceredigion County Council who is responsible for Economy and Regeneration, said: “I’m proud that Ceredigion County Council is supporting Craft Festival Wales – realising the ambition of an event we first discussed in 2019. Cardigan is home to a thriving arts scene – with many creative businesses and individuals based in the region. This event will give makers from Ceredigion a fantastic opportunity to grow their businesses, offer a great day out, and will attract visitors to the town after the summer season ends. I’m delighted that we’re a key partner of Craft Festival Wales and hope that it will become a major annual event in Ceredigion’s events calendar.”
Meirion Davies, Director of Cardigan Castle said: “This is a great opportunity for the Castle to invite the people of Cardigan and visitors from afar to experience the wonderful showcase that is Craft Festival Wales. It is fitting that many of the crafts and the work produced for the festival would have formed an integral part of the daily life of the Castle and the town’s history: crafts which have transcended time, and pieces of the highest quality will celebrate each maker’s vision and skill. It’s very exciting.”
Applications are invited from makers to take part in the event. Applications open on 12 February and the deadline is 6pm on 5 April. For details and to apply, go to www.craftfestival.co.uk/Apply/
Craft Festival Wales is produced in association with Ceredigion County Council, Arts Council of Wales and QEST.
Craft Festival Wales partners are:
Cardigan Castle, Cered – Menter Iaith Ceredigion, Coleg Sir Gar, Discover Ceredigion, Llantarnam Grange, Make it in Wales, Mwldan, National Wool Museum, Oriel Myrddin Gallery (Carmarthen County Council), Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) and Sea & Slate,
Supporters are: Awen Teifi, Canfas, Cardigan Town Council, Cardigan Bay Brownies, Coleg Ceredigion, Crwst, Fforest and Small World Theatre.
Further details of Craft Festival’s Wales programme will be announced soon. For information, including details of exhibitors, visit https://www.craftfestival.co.uk/Wales/
Tickets are on sale on Tuesday 13 February 2024.
Open Friday, Saturday & Sunday 10am-5pm
Adult daily ticket £7
Adult 3-day weekend ticket £13
Accompanied Children Under 18 FREE
Accompanied Carers FREE
Craft Festival Wales 2024 Call for Entries
Applications are invited from makers working to the highest standards. You make ceramics, glass, textiles, jewellery, metal, wood, plastics, mixed media, leather, recycled materials, printmaking and paper. Your work shows a dedication to quality of making, presentation and originality. You live anywhere in the world.
Craft Festival Wales / Gŵyl Grefft Cymru –
Cardigan. Craft Festival Wales will be held over three days at Cardigan Castle from 6 – 8 September 2024.
Embracing A Wonderful Summer & Exciting Times Ahead!
Canfas has had a very busy summer and is looking forward to upcoming events as well as some exciting news we want to share!
Iwan Bala ‘Ethnograff(r)ica’ Review by Cathryn Gwynn
For several decades. Iwan Bala’s raw, unflinching work has shone a light on issues of culture, national identity, history and politics. One of its hallmarks, of course, is the integration of text – as slogan, poetry or comment – in strong black lettering, in paintings where landscape and figure merge in powerful, urgent messages.
Sam Vicary Interview 2022
Sam Vicary talking about here June 2022 exhibtion here at Canfas
Affordable Art Fair – Hampstead Heath 2022
Canfas has been chosen to exhibit at Affordable Art Fair - Hampstead Heath 2022 - 5-8th May 2022
Interview with Elizabeth haines – February 2022
Elizabeth Haines talking about here February 2022 exhibtion here at Canfas
Lucy Burns ‘Folklore ‘ Interview
Lucy Burns talking about her February 2022 solo exhibition at Canfas
Film with Adrian Bradbury
Adrian Bradbury talking about his December 2021- January 2022 solo exhibition at Canfas
Film with Alison Lochhead
Alison Lochhead talking about her October 2021 exhibition'What's Happening?' at Canfas
Pete Bodenham – Neptune’s Bin Bag
Artist Pete Bodenham talks about his current exhibit at Canfas for the Art Of Protest gallery take over.
Angharad Taris – August 2021
Interview with Local artist Angharad Taris about her August 2021 exhibition at Canfas
Pete Bodenham – August 2021
August 2021 interview with Pete Bodenham about his ceramic exhibition
Adam Taylor – August 2021
Interview with Adam Taylor about his August 2021 window show in Canfas.
June 2021 window display interview with Natalie Chapman
A bright and vibrant window display with Natalie Chapman
ArtDrop 2021 interview with Natalie Chapman
Interview with ARTDROP curator Natalie Chapman
Natalie Chapman interview
Interview with Natalie Chapman about her social documentary photographic exhibition
Interview with Sam Vicary May 2021
10 minute film with Sam Vicary talking about her new exhibition at Canfas
Cymry ar Gynfas 2: Meinir Mathias and Iolo Williams S4C
Meinir Mathias paints wildlife expert Iolo Williams
Pauline Latham Interview April 2021
Interview with Pauline Latham about her 2021 show in Canfas.
Jonathan Retallick – short film
A short film of Jonathan Retallick introducing his exhibition at Canfas, December 2020
Rose Sanderson – December 2020
Interview with Rose Sanderson about her exhibition of 'Lichen' paintings at Canfas in December 2020
Suzanne Harris – Film November 2020
Interview with artist and painter Suzanne Harris about her November 2020 exhibition at Canfas
Ag Cain – October 2020
Ag Cain talking about his October Exhibition at Canfas - October 2020
Elizabeth Haines filmed Interview 2020
Filmed Interview with Elizabeth Haines talking about her exhibition at Canfas in September 2020
Carole Hodgson film October 2020
A filmed Interview with Carole Hodgson in October 2020 talking about her work and her solo exhibition at Canfas Gallery in Cardigan.
Meinir Mathias – Introduction
This is the first of a series of short films by Meinir Mathias
Artists on Art: Sam Vicary by Martha Lloyd Morgan
In this, the first of a new series, Artists on Art, Cardigan based artist and regular Canfas exhibitor, Sam Vicary, contemplates artistic influences, beloved works, and her own creative process.
Open Call for New Artists for 2021/2022
Once a year we invite Welsh artists or artists based in Wales to submit their work for future exhibitions. Deadline extended due to Covid 19 lockdown until February 28th 2021
Exhibition review October 2020 – Carole Hodgson
Carole’s exhibition at Canfas is a masterful celebration of texture, form, light, and shade. Simply but effectively displayed, Carole’s works are allowed to speak for themselves, without interference, and invite contemplation from every angle.
Elizabeth Haines – Review by Caroline Juler
Elizabeth Haines has a new show at Canfas. It consists of a handful of relatively large, confidently handled abstract paintings which she has made over the last 18 months and during the pandemic lockdown this year. She says the enforced isolation allowed her to focus better on her work which has so often relied on…
Unaiza Ismail talk at Canfas, 6pm Friday 13th December 2019
We are delighted to welcome artist Unaiza Ismail to talk about her practice and show artwork from her 2 week residency in CreateSpace Wales in Ferwig.
Meeting 7.30pm Sat 9th November @ Stwdio 3
On Saturday 9th November at 7.30 in Stiwdio 3, Cardigan, I will be giving a talk and facilitating an open discussion along with Suzi and Beth on ‘what and how do art schools teach?’
‘Other Voices’ at Canfas
We are very excited to be part of the 'Other Voices' Music Trail, and to be hosting these two wonderful artists: 5pm - Friday - Particpant 5pm - Saturday - Accü
Pembrokeshire Online Review
One of the latest winds to blow into Cardigan’s flying sails is Oriel Canfas. It’s not the only art space here, but the gallery which opened in July is offering something different enough to make it stand out.
Talk by US artist Julia Rymer Saturday 12th October 2019 at Canfas
Artist Julia Rymer to talk about her work and showing drawings and paintings from her 2 week residency in CreateSpace Wales in Ferwig.
Ian Phillips – 28/9/19 – 22/11/19
New exhibition from Aberystwyth based printmaker Ian Phillips
10% discount on Fine Art Materials for ‘Friends of Canfas’
10% discount on Fine Art Materials for 'Friends of Canfas' at Y Wiber
