Yorkshire Artspace is proud to be part of The Crafts Council's HotHouse scheme (North cohort) that was kick-started in London on 9th January 2013. Together with staff members of The Crafts Council, Bluecoat Display Centre and Liverpool Hope University we selected 10 of the most promising early-career designer-makers to be part of the scheme.

The Crafts Council's Hothouse scheme selects the brightest new craft talent from across the UK and provides them with a tailor-made six-month programme of creative and business support. This autumn four regional cohorts (South West, North, East and London) have selected a total of 40 makers to benefit from HotHouse scheme support.

The North Cohort consists of ten makers including: Catherine Carr (Glossop, Derbyshire) who combines traditional textile skills and glass by knitting or crocheting fibreglass which is then heated and manipulated to create formed glass vessels; Drew Markou (Birmingham) who creates concrete and metal pieces inspired by structures seen in the urban environment and the paths and networks that run between and through them; and Jill Shaddock (Manchester) who explores material and process and her ceramic pieces are the outcome of a manipulation of the normal method of slipcasting.

The North cohort also includes three artists currently selected for Yorkshire Artspace's Starter Studio Programmes: Fay Jenkinson, Anne Laycock and Sarah Pasley. The other 4 makers selected for the North Cohort are Greig Alderman (Manchester - jewellery), Grant Aston (London - ceramics), Kirsty Pearson (Leeds - jewellery) and Naomi Robinson (Liverpool - ceramics)  

In a market place where the bespoke and hand-made are being recognised and celebrated by global brands, the skill and knowlede of the individual maker becomes even more powerful. The HotHouse scheme is for makers within two years of setting up their business who already display a high level of technical craftmanship and originality but need support for the next phase of their business and creative development.

See below quotes from all organisational partners in the project.

"We look forward to the creative energy that the four new cohorts will bring to the HotHouse scheme. The ten makers selected for the North demonstrate application of new processes with exciting outcomes and we look forward to working with Bluecoat Display Centre, Liverpool Hope University and Yorkshire Artspace to developing practices further." Rosy Greenlees, Executive Director, Crafts Council

"I was delighted for Bluecoat Display Centre to be involved in the partnership with the Craft Council, Liverpool Hope University and Yorkshire Artspace - all organisations that I admire. The education and professional development of emerging artists is something we keenly believe in. As an independent registered charity that exhibits and sells the highest standard of contemporary craft, one of our aims is to assist makers in realising their full potential and in establishing sustainable business models for the future." Maureen Bampton, Director, Bluecoat Display Centre Liverpool

"Yorkshire Artspace is thrilled to be involved in this fantastic HotHouse project that will give ten of the most promising early-stage designer-makers access to a comprehensive 6-month tailored business support scheme. We very much look forward to working in partnership with the Crafts Council, Bluecoat Display Centre and Liverpool Hope University from January 2013." Mir Jansen, programme manager at Yorkshire Artspace

Hothouse forms one strand of the Crafts Council Collective, a programme of CPD provision for makers enabling them to take control of their own professional development throughout their careers.