Craft Scotland

What Craft Scotland does

Craft Scotland is the national development agency for contemporary craft in Scotland, operating since 2008 as a registered Scottish charity (SC039491) and company limited by guarantee (SC270245) headquartered in Edinburgh. Its core function is sector development rather than direct commerce: it supports makers, curators, and the wider craft ecosystem through learning programmes, bursaries, exhibition opportunities, and an online directory. The organisation runs a platform-plus-programmes architecture built on a website (craftscotland.org) hosting the Craft Directory (over 3,500 maker profiles), What's On event listings, and the Craft Scotland Journal editorial hub, supplemented by a Mighty Networks-based learning platform (COMPASS: Online). Its flagship programmes include the year-long COMPASS Emerging Maker and Emerging Curator cohorts (5 cohorts since 2018), the Inches Carr Craft Bursaries (£2,000 emerging / £5,000 established, taken into Craft Scotland's custodianship in 2022), the Making History Residency with Historic Environment Scotland, and the MAKE with the Knit Shop CLPL project in Dundee primary schools. Annual participation at Collect (Somerset House, London) — ninth presentation in 2024 — anchors its international showcase activity, supplemented by partnerships with Swedish Crafts Centre, Cockpit, and Hospitalfield.

The organisation employs a small core team of seven staff (Director Irene Kernan, Creative Director Stacey Hunter, plus operations, finance, learning, and marketing leads) and operates on a non-commercial revenue model dominated by charitable grants from Creative Scotland, William Grant Foundation, and Paul Hamlyn Foundation. Self-generated income is limited to £49 annual Craft Directory profile fees and modest opportunity application fees, with a 15% discount for directory members. Pricing across the public-facing services is therefore essentially free or low-friction; the business model is grant-funded sector development, not commercial SaaS or marketplace economics. GTM is hybrid: event-driven (Collect, HARVEST, exhibitions, residencies) combined with community-led activation through the Maker Community platform, Journal content marketing, and direct outreach to maker and curator personas.

Name

Craft Scotland

Legal name

Craft Scotland

Website

https://craftscotland.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Craft Scotland is the national development agency for contemporary craft in Scotland, supporting makers and curators through learning programmes (COMPASS), bursaries (Inches Carr), exhibition opportunities, and a Craft Directory of over 3,500 makers, funded primarily by charitable grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts Development Services

akta.pro primary industry

Crafts & Maker Arts (Ceramics, Textiles, Jewelry, Mixed Media) (EDAMAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts & Crafts Workshops (Painting, Pottery, Ceramics, Sculpture) (THAJAKAA), Textile & Fiber Arts Classes (Weaving, Knitting, Embroidery, Dyeing) (THAJAKAB)

Keywords

• National craft development
• Maker support services
• Craft sector funding
• Contemporary craft exhibitions
• Learning development programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Edinburgh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Charitable Funding & Grants: Craft Scotland is a registered Scottish charity (SC039491) and company limited by guarantee (SC270245), primarily funded through grants and partnerships with Creative Scotland, William Grant Foundation, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, and other charitable organisations.
2. Craft Directory Profile Fees: Makers pay a fee to maintain a profile on the Craft Directory, which provides visibility and business development opportunities. The Craft Directory fee is £49.
3. Opportunity Application Fees: Fees associated with applying for Craft Scotland opportunities such as awards, bursaries, and exhibition slots. Craft Directory profile holders receive a 15% discount on application fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Craft Scotland operates a national development agency supporting Scottish contemporary craft makers through a portfolio of learning programmes (COMPASS: Emerging Maker, COMPASS: Emerging Curator, and COMPASS: Online), funding mechanisms (Inches Carr Craft Bursaries of £2,000–£5,000), exhibition opportunities (Collect at Somerset House, HARVEST, Making History Residency, Workflow), and online platforms including the Craft Directory of 3,500+ makers, the What's On events listings, and the Craft Scotland Journal. The agency funds its work primarily through grants from Creative Scotland, William Grant Foundation, and Paul Hamlyn Foundation.

Product overview

Craft Scotland is the national development agency supporting makers and promoting craft in Scotland. The organization operates a platform-plus-programmes architecture, consisting of its Craft Directory (a searchable database of over 3,500 Scottish makers), the What's On events platform, and the Craft Scotland Journal editorial content hub. Supporting these core platforms are its flagship learning and development programmes: COMPASS (Emerging Maker Programme, Emerging Curator Programme, and COMPASS: Online), the Inches Carr Craft Bursaries, the Making History Residency, and the MAKE with the Knit Shop educational initiative. The organization also facilitates international exhibition opportunities through its participation in Collect and produces themed exhibitions like Workflow.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• COMPASS: Craft Scotland's dynamic learning and development programme delivering tailored support for the craft sector, including the Emerging Maker Programme and Emerging Curator Programme
• HARVEST
• Craft Directory
• Craft Week Scotland

Products and services

• COMPASS: Emerging Maker Programme Year-long learning and development programme that nurtures Scottish craft talent and equips makers with skills to create sustainable businesses and creative practices, including online workshops, residential experiences, and mentoring by Cockpit's business incubation team.
• COMPASS: Online Free-to-access online learning and development platform for makers and craft professionals, offering courses on routes to market, sustainable making, and health and wellbeing, powered by Mighty Networks.
• COMPASS: Emerging Curator Programme Development programme supporting emerging craft curators at the early stages of their creative practice through networking, professional development sessions, and research trips such as Stockholm Craft Week.
• Craft Directory Ultimate guide to Scottish contemporary craft talent featuring profiles of over 3,500 makers across Scotland with contact details and discipline information, available via £49 annual subscription.
• Inches Carr Craft Bursaries Prestigious bursary awards supporting emerging and established Scotland-based makers with £2,000 (Emerging) and £5,000 (Established) bursaries for practice development, research, training, courses, residencies, or equipment.
• MAKE with the Knit Shop Two-year Career Long Professional Learning project for primary schools in Dundee, embedding craft approaches across the curriculum to develop numeracy skills, delivered in partnership with Knit Shop, Panel, and Dundee Creative Learning Network.
• What's On Public events listings platform featuring craft workshops, courses, and exhibitions across Scotland.
• Craft Scotland Journal Editorial platform featuring maker stories, craft news, exhibition reviews, and sector updates, including the monthly 'The Craft Edit' newsletter.
• Collect Exhibition Annual presentation of Scottish makers at Collect, the leading international fair for contemporary craft and design held at Somerset House, London, showcasing Scotland-based makers.
• Making History Residency Maker-in-residence initiative in partnership with Historic Environment Scotland, placing makers in Scotland's historical buildings (e.g. Arbroath Abbey) for community engagement projects such as Felicity Bristow's 'Roots and Crowns' workshops with Home-Start Angus families.
• Workflow Exhibition International exhibition project curated collaboratively by the COMPASS curator cohort, displayed at Swedish Crafts Centre in Stockholm.
• HARVEST Contemporary Craft Fair Annual contemporary craft fair organised by Craft Scotland featuring makers, exhibitions, and public engagement.

Quantifiable outcome

• COMPASS programme has supported 5 cohorts of emerging makers since 2018
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• CockpitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLondon-based organisation supporting contemporary makers through studio space and business advice. Cockpit's Business Incubation team delivers one-to-one mentoring sessions for COMPASS programme participants, providing expertise in business development for craft practitioners.
• Konsthantverkscentrum (Swedish Crafts Centre)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwedish Crafts Centre is the only occupational organisation for professional craft artists in Sweden with 800 members. Partnership on Workflow 2024 exhibition at The Swedish Crafts Centre, Stockholm, curated by COMPASS: Emerging Curator Programme cohort.
• World Crafts Council (Europe)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransnational network representing nearly 40 craft organisations from over 20 European countries with mission to promote and valorise crafts. Supported Workflow 2024 Talk at Swedish Crafts Centre.
• MAKEstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerManifesto for craft in Scotland drawn from aspirations and concerns of Scotland's craft community. Partnership on MAKE with the Knit Shop project, guided by Panel with advisory group of makers.
• PanelstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCuratorial arts organisation led by Catriona Duffy and Lucy McEachan, based in Glasgow. Panel promotes design and craft in relation to particular histories, archives and collections through exhibitions, events and cultural projects. Leads MAKE with the Knit Shop project.
• Knit ShopstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent knit factory in Dundee owned by award-winning Scottish textile and product designer Donna Wilson. Partnership on MAKE with the Knit Shop CLPL project for primary school teachers, bridging design, industry and education.
• Dundee Creative Learning NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority-led initiative providing support in developing creative teaching, creative learning and creativity skills across subjects. Partnership on MAKE with the Knit Shop programme in Dundee primary schools.
• Historic Environment ScotlandstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment body responsible for historic environment in Scotland. Partnership on Making History Residency initiative, hosting makers in residence at historical buildings including Arbroath Abbey, with access to archive resources.
• HospitalfieldstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerRenowned arts centre in Arbroath hosting five-day immersive residential for COMPASS programme participants. Makers engage in case studies, peer-to-peer critiques, and explore personal and professional values.
• Arbroath 2020+1minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFestival and community project facilitating Making History residency at Arbroath Abbey. Partnership enables community engagement craft project with Home-Start Angus charity.
• Home-Start AngusminorOthersCharity supporting young families in Angus. Community partner for Making History residency, with maker Felicity Bristow running 'Roots and Crowns' book-making workshops with families.
• Crafts CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational development agency for contemporary crafts in the UK. Organises Collect international fair at Somerset House where Craft Scotland showcases Scottish makers annually. Partnership is central to Craft Scotland's international reach strategy.
• Culture & Business ScotlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganisation bridging culture and business sectors. Craft Scotland is a member, indicating commitment to business engagement alongside artistic mission.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/craftscotland
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/craftscotland
• Facebookfacebook.com/craftscotland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/craft-scotland
• Instagraminstagram.com/craftscotland

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Craft Scotland