ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on inequalities in UK craft. It discusses the context of inequalities in UK craft, which includes the guild system, the British Arts and Crafts movement in the late 19th Century, and the Commonwealth Institute in the mid-20th Century. All three are key moments in craft history which help to explain the structural inequalities in professional craft today. The Commonwealth Institute in particular is a tangible manifestation of value hierarchies in craft, and Britain’s attempts to reconcile with its colonial history. This context is followed by interviews with women from racially minoritised groups in craft, revealing experiences of racism, microaggressions, and feeling like their work is unfairly judged by people across the craft sector. The final section of the chapter outlines three case studies of socially engaged craft organisations in the UK, highlighting their work with communities, and how they foster a sense of inclusion and belonging for participants. However, these organisations also struggle financially, and rely on the passion and dedication of their founders to survive. Cultural policy needs to better support such organisations, for the benefit of the entire craft ecology.
