29 June 2007

New Craft - future voices

Conference - July 4th to 6th
Research Gallery - July 4th to August 4th

So you think `crafts’ are a series of traditional, handed-down-through-generations series of activities such as knitting, basketweaving and cakemaking?

Well prepare to see any such staid preconceptions blown away by a unique gathering in Dundee next week, when over a hundred of the world’s leading craft practitioners and academics arrive in the city for a major international conference exploring the diversity of craft in a rapidly changing world.

The "New Craft - Future Voices" event will see them discussing the processes, ideas and applications which are producing dynamic new work across the crafts, ideas which can be seen in accompanying exhibitions and a stunning `research gallery’ running alongside the conference.

Wallpaper which blooms into flower in response to changing light and heat in the home; sculpture which is fashioned from amazingly intricate laser technology scratching particles within a solid block of glass to trace the flight of a moth; jewellery which reacts to the wearer; cutting-edge textile design where pattern is cut to the shape of the body rather than being limited by the shape of the cloth - this is just some of the work that shows how crafts research is developing at rapid speeds.

"This is just the start of a new recognition of the role the Crafts play in today’s contemporary society," said Professor Georgina Follett, co-organiser of "New Craft - Future Voices" and Dean of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, which as part of the University of Dundee is hosting the conference and exhibitions.

"Seeing is believing, so I would urge everyone to come and look at our research gallery, which is really special. The work on show is truly outstanding and something you can really get involved with. This is a `must touch' event in stead of a `don't touch' exhibition - miss it and miss out."

Over 100 craft practitioners and academics from all over the world are expected to attend the conference, which takes place from July 4th to 6th at the University’s Bonar Hall. The `research gallery’ will be sited in the Cooper Gallery at Duncan of Jordanstone College, and further exhibitions are on show at the Visual Research Centre and 152 shop in Dundee Contemporary Arts.

Delegates to the conference will discuss and develop a new vision for the crafts in the 21st Century.

Supported by the Scottish Arts Council and co-convened by Professor Follett and Dr Louise Valentine, also of Duncan of Jordanstone College, the conference arises from their Arts and Humanities Research Council-funded project, ‘Past, Present & Future Craft Practice’, significantly the largest AHRC grant awarded to the crafts in the UK.

'New Craft - Future Voices' will celebrate an interchange of ideas, and will cover the vast range of crafts from hobbyist craft through to radical vision. By incorporating collaborative practice through to digital media it will capture a multiplicity of activities within the crafts and take stock of their fast changing cultural and creative role.

Dr Valentine said Dundee had "risen to the challenge of creating an exciting international event."

"We have had fantastic support from the City Council and also through sponsorship from our local partners including Eden Water, Promotion Matters, Not Just Design, The Tasting Rooms and the Visual Research Centre," said Dr Valentine.

NOTES TO EDITORS

The conference website is at www.newcraftfuturevoices.com and the ‘Past, Present and Future Craft Practice’ project blog can be found at http://www.craftresearch.blogspot.com/

Images of work from the research gallery are available.

For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk