GEMMA CLAPP discovers more about one of the biggest arts and crafts festivals in the UK that takes place here in Devon
For the past ten years Bovey Tracey has played host to one of the biggest arts and crafts festivals in the country: the Contemporary Craft Festival. This year is no different, and as the festival enters its 11th year, expect it to be bigger and better than ever before.
Regular readers will have ‘met’ the local makers that will be featured at the show in our May issue, but these six are just the cherry on top of a very impressive cake. Nearly 200 crafters from all over the UK and Ireland will be descending on the quaint town, which lies on the edge of Dartmoor, turning it into a colourful haven of art and craft.
It’s not just the artists that travel far and wide; while many of the visitors are either from Devon or our neighbouring counties, several travel huge distances for what they call “the best art event of the year”.
This year’s estimated 10,000 visitors can expect a weekend brimming with live action with everything from silversmiths, potters, jewellers and glass makers to textile artists, 3D printers and much more. Emerging artists also get a chance to showcase and sell their work thanks to the One Year On and Hothouse marquees, meaning it’s the perfect chance to discover a new crafter.
It isn’t just an event for adults either; a range of workshops for all ages are on offer, allowing you and your family the opportunity to learn to weave, make jewellery and create stunning mosaics. The Children’s Craft Tent will also keep budding young crafters enthralled all day.
But it isn’t all about the visual, with makers, campaigners, academics and entrepreneurs taking to The Talk Tip stage throughout the festival to talk to visitors about differing aspects of craft.
If listening to talks isn’t your thing, there will be plenty of live music filling the air from fantastic local performers and you can tantalise your taste buds with a wide variety of locally sourced street food.
The aim of the festival is to showcase the very best in British craft and to create a new, sustainable and strong market place for contemporary craft. It also showcases the town of Bovey Tracey as a hub of creativity and crafting excellence.
Why not visit the festival and find out what a fantastic event it is for yourself? This year it takes place from 6-8 June at Mill Marsh Park, Bovey Tracey. Day tickets cost £8 for adults and £7 for concessions, with weekend tickets costing £15 and £13 respectively. Family tickets are also available for £22.
See craftsatboveytracey.co.uk for more details.
Competition
We have teamed up with the Contemporary Craft Festival to offer five pairs of weekend tickets to lucky Devon Life readers. To be in with a chance of winning, simply answer the following question:
Where does the Contemporary Craft Festival take place?
Send your answers on a postcard to Devon Life/CCF competition, F.A.O. Gemma Clapp, Newbery House, Fair Oak Close, Exeter Airport Business Park, Clyst Honiton, Devon, EX5 2UL. Alternatively you can e-mail your answer to competitions@devonlife.co.uk putting ‘CCF competition’ in the subject line.
The winner will be notified after the closing date of 3 June. The winners will be the first five correct answers drawn from all entries received. By entering this competition you agree to your contact details being passed to the competition provider.
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