Collect 2018: The Talks

- words by Laura

With more than 400 artists from 13 countries, there’s going to be a whole host of visual inspiration when Collect 2018 comes to the Saatchi Gallery between 22 and 25 February. But with a cracking programme of talks featuring some of the top names in craft, design and art, there’s plenty to feed your noggin on too.

Collect is so close now that we feel like five-year-olds in the back of the car, repeatedly asking ‘Are we nearly there yet?’ But holy moly, the announcement of the Collect 2018 talks programme has taken our anticipation up a notch. So whether you’re a maker looking for inspiration or a civilian wanting some tips on starting your own craft collection, there’s a talk – or several – for you.

Friday

11:30
In Focus: Jewellery
Join leading figures from the jewellery world to discuss patronage and the role of the collector in the evolution of the art jewellery market. Independent Fine Jewellery Specialist, Joanna Hardy will explore this relationship with collector, Jo Bloxham, and artist and designer Lin Cheung and David Mills from Goldsmiths’ Fair.

14:00
Eyes on the Prize
How high-profile prizes are putting craft on the map. The discussion, chaired by BBC Radio Producer Corinna Jones, brings together judges and finalists from the Loewe Craft Prize and BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour Craft Prize to reveal how recent competitions are introducing new audiences to contemporary makers.

16:00
Traditions Reimagined
The panel of international makers and gallerists delves into how traditions from across the globe influence and enrich their practices. Join British Council’s Programme Manager for Design, Gian Luca Amadei in discussion with gallerists, makers and curators, Bev Gibson, Piet Stockmans, Peter Ting and Angus Ross for their global perspective. 

18:00
Crafts Music Club
Unwind with a drink, music and conversation as Crafts Editor, Grant Gibson, talks to luthier Alex Bishop about the processes and philosophy behind his guitar making. Alex will play a number of his instruments, sharing the story, and demonstrating the fine craftsmanship that goes into each one.

Saturday

11:30
In Focus: Ceramics
Explore the story of British studio pottery and the legacy of early 20th-century artists on ceramics today. Joanna Bird, gallery owner, curator and consultant, Alun Graves, senior curator, ceramics and glass at the V&A, and Helen Walsh, curator of ceramics,Centre of Ceramic Art (CoCA), York Art Gallery, discuss the ongoing reinvention and global influence of British ceramists in a panel chaired by Helen Ritchie from The Fitzwilliam Museum.

14:00
Crafts Book Club: Alexander Langlands, Cræft
Archaeologist, historian and TV presenter Alexander Langlands discusses his new book Craeft: How Traditional Crafts Are About More Than Just Making with Grant Gibson, editor of Crafts. Through a series of mini-histories and personal anecdotes, Langlands mounts a passionate argument for the renewed importance of making in the modern world.

15:30
Collecting – An intimate relationship
The Crafts Council brings together collectors and curators to reveal the stories behind their passion for collecting. In a panel chaired by Brian Kennedy, artistic director of Tresor, Mark Holford, Annabelle Campbell, and Preston Fitzgerald discuss the dynamics of the relationships between collectors, gallerists and artists that underpin how collections grow.   

16:45
Lightning Talks
Six makers exhibiting at Collect talk about their work in just 10 minutes and 20 slides each. This fun, fast-paced session hosted by the Crafts Council’s creative director Annie Warburton provides a unique insight into the maker’s work and processes.

Sunday

11:30
In Focus: Furniture
Leading furniture makers and designers Ineke Hans, Joni Steiner and Sebastian Cox join Crafts editor Grant Gibson to discuss the future of furniture. How are new processes changing the way we buy and enjoy our furniture?

14:00
Collect Open Makers in Conversation
Each year, the Collect Open selection generates a hum of excitement as makers showcase large-scale and experimental works specifically created for Collect. The Crafts Council’s Caroline Jackman talks with Collect Open artists Mella Shaw, Juliette Bigley, Max Bainbridge, Alison Lowry and Donna Brennan about the journeys they’ve undertaken to get to this point, and where they might go next.

16:00
Next Generation Craft
The Crafts Council’s Learning Team invites people aged between 16-25 to hear more about Collect and find out how their own craft ambitions can be supported by the Crafts Council.

Want to know more about Collect 2018? Read up on our Collect lowdown here. Find out more about Collect 2018 showing at Saatchi Gallery 22-25 February 2018 by visiting the Crafts Council's website here.