What Devon Guild of Craftsmen does

MAKE Southwest (formerly Devon Guild of Craftsmen) is a UK-registered charity (no. 296568) and private company limited by guarantee, founded in 1955 and operating from Riverside Mill in Bovey Tracey, Devon. The organisation runs three free-entry ground-floor galleries (Riverside, Jubilee, Maker Showcase plus The Wheel Room), a physical and online retail shop selling handmade craft from approximately 250 Maker Members, and a paid and free workshop programme covering disciplines from spoon carving and willow basket weaving to ceramics and bookbinding. It also operates the Green Maker Initiative as a sustainability sub-brand and runs craft-education outreach in schools, hospitals, and community settings, including the Craft & Making Saturday Club.

Revenue is generated across five diversified streams: retail sales of handmade goods, paid workshop fees (typically £55-£160), Maker Member subscription fees with three annual selection rounds, donations and 'Become a Friend' subscriptions, and pop-up café income. The business model is community-led and event-driven, anchored by a curated 250+ Maker Member network and major recurring events such as the Craft Festival Bovey Tracey (22 years in 2026, 200+ makers). There is no proprietary technology platform beyond a CMS website with integrated e-commerce, and no AI/ML capabilities are described.

The organisation maintains major-funder relationships with Arts Council England, regulatory relationships with Teignbridge Borough Council, and strategic partnerships with Heritage Crafts, Bovey Tracey Town Council, CAMP Membership CIC, and the CRAFT Festival. Customer segments are distributed across Maker Members, general public visitors, children and families, and teachers/educators, with no single anchor customer driving revenue.

Name

Devon Guild of Craftsmen

Legal name

MAKE Southwest

Website

https://crafts.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MAKE Southwest (formerly Devon Guild of Craftsmen) is a UK-registered charity and exhibition space in Bovey Tracey, Devon, operating three free-entry galleries, a Maker Member retail shop, paid craft workshops, and education outreach programmes serving approximately 250 craftspeople, school and community groups, and general public visitors across Southwest England.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Education & Exhibition Services

NAICS

Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (71151)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts & Crafts Workshops (Painting, Pottery, Ceramics, Sculpture) (THAJAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Crafts & Maker Arts (Ceramics, Textiles, Jewelry, Mixed Media) (EDAMAAAD), Traditional & Indigenous Crafts Lessons (Heritage Skills, Folk Arts) (THAJAKAH), General Arts & Crafts Supplies Retail (CRALACAA)

Keywords

• Contemporary craft exhibitions
• Handmade craft retail
• Artisan workshop courses
• Craft maker membership
• Craft education charity

Headquarters

HQ city

Bovey Tracey

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Sales: Physical and online craft shop selling handmade goods from Maker Members. Stock includes ceramics, jewellery, textiles, prints, woodwork, leather goods, and craft kits. Everything sold is handmade or printed in the UK.
2. Workshop Fees: Paid workshops and courses ranging from £55-£160 for various craft disciplines including spoon carving, willow basket weaving, jewellery making, eco printing, and more. Also offers free community workshops.
3. Membership Subscriptions: Maker Member membership program providing benefits including selling opportunities in the shop, exhibiting opportunities, networking events, and CPD sessions. Three application periods per year (January, May, September).
4. Donations and Fundraising: Registered charity (no. 296568) accepting donations. 'Become a Friend' subscription, Teignbridge Lottery participation, and various support programs. Any profits are fed back into the organization.
5. Café Revenue: Pop-up café operated by Rodney's, offering refreshments to visitors. Café is dog-friendly and open during gallery hours.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

MAKE Southwest (formerly Devon Guild of Craftsmen) operates as a craft education charity and exhibition space, running three free-entry galleries plus a retail shop selling handmade craft from approximately 250 Maker Members. It delivers paid workshops and courses across disciplines such as spoon carving, willow basket weaving, jewellery making, and ceramics, alongside educational outreach in schools, hospitals, and community groups. The charity also runs the Green Maker Initiative promoting sustainable craft practices and the annual Craft Festival Bovey Tracey.

Product overview

MAKE Southwest (formerly Devon Guild of Craftsmen) is a craft education charity and exhibition space operating as a membership-based organization. The core offering consists of three gallery spaces (Riverside Gallery, Jubilee Gallery, Maker Showcase Gallery, and The Wheel Room) with free entry, a retail shop selling handmade crafts from approximately 250 Maker Members, maker membership program, education initiatives including workshops and Saturday clubs, and the Green Maker Initiative for sustainable craft. Additional services include commission-a-maker, Rodney's café, and the annual Craft Festival in Bovey Tracey.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Free gallery entry enables broad public access to contemporary craft
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Green Maker InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMAKE Southwest's pioneering sustainability initiative championing sustainable craft through materials, methods and techniques. Includes resources, materials exchange, GMI Book, and events. Supports creatives on their journey to becoming more sustainable in their creative practice.
• Heritage CraftsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-curated 'Staying Alive' exhibition of endangered crafts of the Southwest of England with Heritage Crafts, the charity that maps the UK's crafts.
• Arts Council EnglandmajorOthersMajor funder and supporter. Arts Council England Southwest Director Phil Gibby opened the KINETIC exhibition. Organization reports to Arts Council England for equality monitoring.
• Teignbridge Borough CouncilminorOthersRegistered with Teignbridge Borough Council under the Lotteries & Amusements Act 1976 for competition activities.
• Contemporary Art Membership Platform (CAMP Membership CIC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative exhibition partner for 'CAMP: Flow State' in Riverside Gallery. CAMP is a member-led support and professional development network for artists and creatives across Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly.
• Bovey Tracey Town CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to offer new ceramic skills learning opportunities at Riverside Mill. Builds on town's strong pottery heritage. Project addresses lack of specialist ceramic facilities for local schools, community groups, and emerging makers.
• CRAFT FestivalmajorOthersAnnual Craft Festival held in Mill Marsh Park, Bovey Tracey, organized by friends of MAKE Southwest. Celebrating 22 years in 2026 with over 200 selected makers.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Crafts Council: National UK charity championing contemporary craft with exhibitions, education, and policy work. Direct comparable as a nationwide craft advocacy and education organization, though operating at a much larger national scale than MAKE Southwest's regional focus.
• Etsy: Global online marketplace for handmade crafts and vintage goods. Comparable to MAKE Southwest's retail shop and maker support mission at a vastly larger digital scale; serves as the broad incumbent for handmade craft commerce.
• Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA Glasgow): Multi-disciplinary arts centre in Glasgow with galleries, workshops, and education programming. Comparable as a regional arts charity offering exhibitions, classes, and café/community space, though with broader arts remit beyond craft.

Direct peers

• Heritage Crafts: UK charity that maps endangered crafts across the UK, including the Red List of Endangered Crafts. Directly comparable as MAKE Southwest co-curated the 'Staying Alive' exhibition with Heritage Crafts; both focus on heritage craft preservation and education.
• The New Craftsmen: London-based craft house showcasing contemporary British craft and makers through exhibitions and commissions. Comparable as a curated craft platform supporting makers, though operating as a commercial entity rather than charity.
• Folksy: UK-based online marketplace specifically for handmade British craft. Directly comparable to MAKE Southwest's online shop business model, connecting makers with buyers of handmade goods, with stronger UK focus than Etsy.
• Craft Festival (organizer): Annual craft festival organization that runs the Craft Festival Bovey Tracey in partnership with MAKE Southwest. Comparable as a craft event organizer with maker selection and exhibition programming, though structurally distinct (festival vs. charity).

Regional players

• Craft Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland's craft development agency supporting makers, exhibitions, and craft education. Comparable regional peer with similar charity structure, maker support, and exhibition programming but operating in a different UK region.
• Contemporary Craft (Craft Scotland): Scottish craft development organization supporting makers through exhibitions, education, and professional development. Comparable in mission to MAKE Southwest but serving Scotland rather than Southwest England — a regional peer with similar charity/exhibition/workshop model.

Emerging players

• Craftspace: UK craft organization supporting makers and craft education. Comparable as a smaller craft charity with similar maker support and exhibition capabilities, though with less established regional brand than MAKE Southwest.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/devonguild
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@makesouthwest
• Facebookfacebook.com/makesouthwest
• Instagraminstagram.com/makesouthwest

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Devon Guild of Craftsmen