Crafts Council

The Crafts Advisory Committee was formed in 1971 to advise the Minister for the Arts, David Eccles, 1st Viscount Eccles,[1] ‘on the needs of the artist craftsman and to promote a nation-wide interest and improvement in their products’.

In 1974, it launched the Crafts Advisory Committee Index, an information service for and about craftspeople.

[3] In 1982, the organisation was granted a Royal Charter and became independent of the Design Council.

[2] In 1991, the Crafts Council moved to 44a Pentonville Road, London, where premises included a reference library, a shop, a café, an education workshop and a gallery space.

[2] In 2006, the Crafts Council decreased its on-site activity and closed the gallery, shop, education workshop and café in order for the Crafts Council to increase its regional activity via partnership working.