The Business of Craft?

This article in The Age on Sunday stirred up some major mixed emotions for me.

On the one hand it is great to see the continually growing profile of contemporary craft everywhere you look. As someone who has always loved craft it is wonderful to see it celebrated and embraced and receiving it's dues.

On the other hand it brings to the fore the contentious debate of what constitutes professional craft, and with it the potential to compartmentalise and divide a community that is forged (long before our time) on a foundation of unity, connectivity and respect.

Anyone who is passionate about craft knows that there is good and bad out there in the world. I'm not just talking about personal taste and opinions, but cold hard fact in relation to quality of materials, attention to detail and finish, packaging, customer service, etc, etc. Yes, like all things in life craft exists on a spectrum of exquisite to simply awful.

However, who is to say who of us should be out there trying to make a living from our craft and who should not? The response to your work (customers, feedback, sales) will tell everything you need to know (and some things you didn't want to) about your work. You own creative voice and that of a trusted network of other crafters will also provide invaluable information if you're prepared to listen. Sometimes the best way to learn is by giving it a go and taking the step. There's nothing wrong with it. No-one is forced to buy your product. No-one is forced to like it. I think you're allowed to give it a go. I think you're even allowed to fail, to learn from mistakes, to change direction, try new things and completely evolve as a crafter.

To me craft is so much about the process as well as the end result. By process I mean so many things. The process of designing, conceptualising and creating an end result. The process of coming together as part of a community of like minded and passionate individuals. Perhaps most importantly to me though is the process of standing up, taking a risk and putting yourself out there.

The current revival of the craft movement is surely thanks to both those who have worked hard to have it recognised at the higher end and those who, despite trends and fads, are truly inspired and passionate about craft in all its forms. In fact I imagine that the craft community probably is and will continue to be the greatest advocate and strongest supporter of the growth of contemporary craft. Long after the media have lost interest and the trendsetters have moved on to the next trend crafty people will still love craft. Crafty people will still buy, make and sell craft.

I hate to think of the potential for some aspiring crafter on the verge of taking an enormous step into selling their creative wares to read that article and feel completely intimidated, unwelcome and not good enough.

I think there's room for everyone in this renaissance.