ABSTRACT
The establishment of the twentieth-century craft guilds in the south-west of England including the Dorset Craft Guild brought together business, geographical, and artistic concerns. Craftmakers formed local Guilds in their rural communities, recognizing that collective effort would enable their work to be seen and sold more effectively and efficiently. The particular tension between the Guild and the successor organization, Walford Mill Crafts Centre, led to the closure of the Dorset Craft Guild in the year 2000. The Full Members' Exhibition was a key event for the Guild. Objects were exhibited publicly, clearly judged by a jury of makers, and set out for comparison–all of which provided a yearly challenge for the Guild's members. Craftwork'80 represented a highpoint in the exhibition history of the young Guild; the collegiate cooperation of the Full Members allied to a designer's vision.
