Craft Festival Wales hailed a huge success as thousands attend event at Cardigan Castle

The first Craft Festival Wales, held at Cardigan Castle over the weekend of Friday 06 to Sunday 08 September, has “exceeded all expectations” of the organisers, as over 3,500 people of all ages attended the event.

Craft Festival Wales showcased an exceptional handpicked selection of 80 craft professionals from across the UK, with many from mid and west Wales. These included jewellery makers, potters, furniture makers, textile artists, glassmakers, and many more, selling their finely made unique products directly to the public.

The Festival is a not-for-profit enterprise led by Sarah James MBE, who was born and bred in Cardigan, as well as Nina Fox. Sarah and Nina also organise the multi-award-winning Craft Festival in Bovey Tracey and Craft Festival Cheltenham.

Craft Festival Wales was funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), which is administrated by the Cynnal y Cardi team for Ceredigion County Council, with additional funding from Arts Council of Wales and QEST (Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust). Special thanks goes to Councillor Clive Davies, Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration at Ceredigion County Council, for his unstinting support.

Councillor Davies said: “We are absolutely delighted with the success of the first Craft Festival Wales. The event has truly exceeded all our expectations, drawing thousands of visitors and showcasing the incredible talent of craft professionals from across the UK, particularly from mid and west Wales. This festival not only highlights the rich cultural heritage of our region but also supports our local economy and community. We are immensely grateful to all our partners, funders, and the dedicated team who made this event possible. We look forward to building on this success in the years to come.”

Renowned potter, author and TV personality Keith Brymer Jones officially opened the event on the first day with Sarah James. Keith also took part in two sold out question-and-answer events later that day with his partner Marj in Castle Green House.

Over 400 children joined in with free craft activities over the weekend in sessions hosted by Amgueddfa Cymru, Llantarnam Grange, Small World Theatre, Jim Parkyn, Carmarthen School of Art at Coleg Sir Gar and Coleg Ceredigion. There were also theatre and music performances over the weekend from Welsh organisations and artists including Hijinx, Kitsch ‘n’ Sync, Mari Mathias, Lowri Evans, Disclaimers and Aberystwyth Silver Band.

The event offered a programme of craft workshops, demonstrations, and masterclasses by some of the UK’s most prestigious makers including Internationally exhibited ceramic artist, Ashraf Hanna, Peter Bodenham of St. Dogmaels Pottery; Carmarthenshire broom and brush maker Rosa Harradine; contemporary hand weaver Llio James; greenwood worker and ash splint basket maker Michelle Mateo; Brechfa ceramicist Tim Lake; and internationally renowned jewellery designer Ann Catrin Evans.

Sarah James said: “I’m absolutely thrilled that so many people came to Craft Festival Wales. We were hoping for a good turnout, but the number of visitors has exceeded all expectations. This was such a special event with a fantastic sense of community and celebration amongst our exhibitors and visitors all weekend.

“I’m extremely grateful to our funders, project partners, the Craft Festival team, volunteers, our exhibitors, demonstrators, and the wonderful people of Ceredigion for helping us to  bring this event to my hometown”.

Two free events which formed part of Craft Festival Wales, are still running. The Significant Forms exhibition curated by Peter Bodenham and presented at Cardigan’s contemporary art gallery Canfas, is an exhibition of museum quality ceramics from Wales. The exhibition features an exciting mix of makers who regularly exhibit internationally. Entry to this exhibition is free and it runs until 08 October.

Furthermore, Craft Trail, in partnership with Oriel Myrddin, presents commissioned work by six emerging makers. This new work takes inspiration from the collections held by The National Contemporary Art Gallery of Wales, a major new initiative sponsored by the Welsh Government, which is developed and managed through a collaboration between Amgueddfa Cymru, the National Library of Wales and Arts Council of Wales. Trail venues are Mwldan, The Albion by Fforest, Crwst, Cardigan Bay Brownies, Awen Teifi, and Make it in Wales / Stiwdio 3. The Craft Trail runs until 20 September.

You can also view The Sculpture Trail by Carmarthen School of Art and the magnificent willow arch by Cardigan based artist, Michelle Cain at Cardigan Castle until 06 October.

Craft Festival Wales was produced in association with Ceredigion County Council, Arts Council of Wales and QEST.

Partners were Cardigan Castle, Cered – Menter Iaith Ceredigion, Coleg Sir Gar, Llantarnam Grange, Make it in Wales, Mwldan, National Wool Museum, Oriel Myrddin, QEST, and Sea & Slate.

Supporters were Awen Teifi, Canfas, Cardigan Town Council, Discover Ceredigion, Cardigan Bay Brownies, Coleg Ceredigion, Crwst, Fforest and Small World Theatre.