Cuts to museums and galleries are starting to have a trickle-down effect on contemporary craftmakers.
A new survey, Craft in the Age of Change, has revealed that while the craft sector remains relatively stable, more than a third of UK craftmakers have seen sales of their work through publicly funded galleries and exhibitions decline in the past three years.
The report, which was overseen by the Crafts Council and other craft bodies, also found that 27% of craftmakers had seen commissions of their work from institutions, including museums and galleries, fall since 2008.
Although a small percentage of the overall craft market, publicly funded museums and galleries are key buyers of craft, with the survey showing that 29% of craftmakers had had their work purchased by a public collection.
In addition, the report found that a growing proportion of craftmakers, who make an average of just £5,000 a year from sales, supplement their income by working in areas often supported by museum and gallery infrastructure.
While not specific to museums and galleries, the research found that more than a third of practitioners had undertaken activities such as running workshops, curating exhibitions or acting as craftmaker-in-residence at institutions.
A Crafts Council spokeswoman said this infrastructure was one of the areas most likely to be adversely affected by government and local authority museum cuts.
Despite the economic outlook, the spokeswomen said the Crafts Council was keen to develop the relationship between craftmakers and museums.
In 2008 the council launched a £75,000 fund with the Art Fund to enable museums to acquire high-quality contemporary crafts at the Art Fund Collect fair in May.
The deadline for applications is 14 March.
A new survey, Craft in the Age of Change, has revealed that while the craft sector remains relatively stable, more than a third of UK craftmakers have seen sales of their work through publicly funded galleries and exhibitions decline in the past three years.
The report, which was overseen by the Crafts Council and other craft bodies, also found that 27% of craftmakers had seen commissions of their work from institutions, including museums and galleries, fall since 2008.
Although a small percentage of the overall craft market, publicly funded museums and galleries are key buyers of craft, with the survey showing that 29% of craftmakers had had their work purchased by a public collection.
In addition, the report found that a growing proportion of craftmakers, who make an average of just £5,000 a year from sales, supplement their income by working in areas often supported by museum and gallery infrastructure.
While not specific to museums and galleries, the research found that more than a third of practitioners had undertaken activities such as running workshops, curating exhibitions or acting as craftmaker-in-residence at institutions.
A Crafts Council spokeswoman said this infrastructure was one of the areas most likely to be adversely affected by government and local authority museum cuts.
Despite the economic outlook, the spokeswomen said the Crafts Council was keen to develop the relationship between craftmakers and museums.
In 2008 the council launched a £75,000 fund with the Art Fund to enable museums to acquire high-quality contemporary crafts at the Art Fund Collect fair in May.
The deadline for applications is 14 March.
