Made in Scotland: Make Works Scottish Quest

22nd June 2013

Make Works has announced plans to more closely connect industry and design; starting with a three-month expedition to find makers and manufacturers across the country.

Make Works, made up of designers, Fi Scott and Vana Coleman are going on a 3 month tour of Scotland this summer to find and visit local factories, foundries and workshops on a quest to find the people, tools and machines that can enable designers, artists and entrepreneurs to fabricate their work locally.

The young designers, who received funding from Creative Scotland will travel the country in the back of an 1979 tartan VW Campervan, searching high and low for the best of the best in Scottish fabrication. From textile manufacturers, ceramics studios, laser-cutting facilities and wood suppliers right through to skilled individuals who have machines to rent out, share skills, are willing to collaborate or to work on small-scale commissions. They will be making short films of each place visited, to communicate the value of the work being done in Scotland; to be developed into a digital directory when they return.

Supporters can follow the journey online with daily blog posts, a weekly radio show and live map, as well as video clips and photo updates.

Caroline Parkinson, Director of Creative Development at Creative Scotland commented: “We are delighted to support Make Works as they embark on this tour of Scotland, connecting creative practitioners more closely to local manufacturers and suppliers. In particular, this initiative should help designers and makers to work with manufacturers on small production runs, enabling them to become more productive and to meet market demand for their products.

“We wish them success in their trip and look forward to seeing the short films documenting their findings and experiences on their return.”

Running alongside the tour, Make Works have introduced a residency programme, supported by the Jerwood Charitable Foundation. After a highly competitive application process eight artists and designers have been selected. Each will respond to the wider aims of the Make Works Tour, creating new work and critically engaging with making, manufacturing and materials.

The residents are as follows; Dominic Wilcox, Neil McGuire, Janine Matheson, Katy West, Hrafnhildur Halldorsdottir, Ewan Sinclair, Kathy Beckett and Joy Bonfield Colombara. Their creative practice ranges from design, visual communication, curation, visual art, ceramics, digital art, textiles and jewellery.

Fi Scott, Founder of Make Works commented: “We are so excited to finally get on the road to discover and document the hidden gems of the industry; the old and new, big and small, and the people behind them; so that we can begin to better connect artists and designers with what Scotland has to offer.”

The Make Works Tour departs from Edinburgh on the 1 July 2013, returning on the 1 October 2013.

Website: www.makeworks.co.uk
Twitter: [AT]thisismakeworks, #makeworkstour

Make Works Tour Team

1. Fi Scott – Founder

2. Vana Coleman – Designer and Driver

3. Luke Moodley and Simon Ray – Edinburgh Film Company – Creative Partners

4. Ross Fraser McLean – Visual Documentation

Make Works Residents

1. Dominic Wilcox- Design

2. Neil McGuire – Visual Communication and Design

Note Dominic Wilcox and Neil McGuire will be working together as a partner-residency

3. Janine Matheson – Curation and Creative Production

4. Katy West –Ceramics

5. Hrafnhildur Halldorsdottir (Rafla) -Installation and Visual Art

6. Ewan Sinclair –Digital and Sensory Art

7. Kathy Beckett – Textile Design and Colour Ecology

8. Joy Bonfield Colombara –Jewellery

Supported by:

Creative Scotland is the national agency for the arts, screen and creative industries. www.creativescotland.com

The Jerwood Charitable Foundation is dedicated to imaginative and responsible revenue funding of the arts, supporting artists to develop and grow at important stages in their careers. It works with artists across art forms, from dance and theatre to literature, music and visual arts. For more information on the Jerwood Charitable Foundation visit: www.jerwoodcharitablefoundation.org