Crafts Council Collection

The Collection was initiated in 1972 to document trends and innovation in the materials, processes, skills and technologies of contemporary craft and is now the UK’s foremost collection of contemporary craft, embracing all disciplines and featuring the most important makers of the last 40 years.

With over 1,600 objects, the Collection provides a distinctive, authoritative view of contemporary craft in its widest sense, from its interface with cutting-edge design to its crossover with visual art.

If you are a venue that complies with museum standards of best practice you can borrow from our Collection. Objects can be loaned in a number of ways and can be loans as short as 24 hours to loans of five years or more.
Our Collections team is happy to discuss an application for a loan and what may serve your needs best. We endeavour to make quick decisions and support you in using the object/s to maximum impact within your venue.

Crafts Council Handling Collection

The Crafts Council Handling Collection currently comprises over 700 objects including ceramics, jewellery, textiles, furniture, glass, metal and basketry accompanied by sketches, books and background material.
If you are a school, college, museum, gallery or other venue you can borrow from our handling collection. Please contact our Collections team to discuss your requirements.

Both collections continue to grow each year via an active programme of acquisitions based on criteria set out in our Acquisitions Policy.

Our Collections team is happy to discuss an application for a loan and what may serve your needs best. We endeavour to make quick decisions and support you in using the object/s to maximum impact within your venue.