For 17 years, the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair has been bringing joy to Manchester – and today it’s back.
As the UK’s biggest event of its kind, the last three years have been held at the impressive Victoria Baths in Victoria Park – which organisers are now proud to call ‘home’.
Exhibitors from all over the country were set up to display and sell jewellery, scarves, paintings, prints, furniture, ceramics and much more, from 10am this morning and are there until Sunday at 4pm.
And thousands of people are expected through the doors for the event.
As a not-for-profit organisation, every penny raised from the fair tickets sold goes into supporting maker development and community outreach – as well as putting on the fair annually.
Kirsty Franey brought her luxury knitwear business Whirlow all the way down from Edinburgh for buyers to enjoy. All of her products are made from 100% super soft lambswool.
“I’m really interested in tapestry and beautiful drawings. I used to design tartans and tweeds and had big customers from Japan, I would take them to the woollen mills in Scotland and help them choose knitwear. I wondered whether drawings would translate into knitwear and here we are.
“It be quite insular in this line of work, then you pop your head up and see what others are doing, so it’s really nice to come to a craft fair of this quality.”
One designer at the event is furniture designer Paul Islip (pictured below), who had travelled over from Chester to attend.
With a background in upholstery, he spent years making chairs and other furniture for John Lewis and Next, but in the last three years, decided he would set up his own business and now enjoys making customised items.
Using the artform of steam bending wood to 100 degrees, Paul is able to make some wonderfully unusual creations including tables and lamps.
He said: “This is a much higher level of craft fair so I put in an application and they accepted me. There are a lot of highly skilled people here.
“Having worked in mass production I really wanted to get back to the real craft of creating things by hand. Customised requests is what I enjoy most. I love a challenge and having to make it.”
Gregg Sealey (pictured below) was invited to bring his wonderful business, GPlank Furniture, along, after the craft fair organisers spotted his talent at a fair in Skipton.
He offers unique artwork all created from salvaged and recycled materials such as wood and paint.
He said: “Landscape gardening is my background and I just couldn’t believe how much wood was being thrown away. I thought it was really wasteful.
“So I had a think what I could do with it and started creating pieces of art. Now people send me pictures of their pets and ask me if I can make them in wood. I had a customer ask me if I could make a 3D flamingo and I was like, go on then.”
Development director of GNCCF, Victoria Scholes, said she expected at least 4,000 through the doors during the event.
“This is our 17th year but it’s the fourth year in this venue and we are so proud to call Victoria Baths home because it gives us the chance to really build links with the local community.
“50% of our stallholders are northern but we have exhibitors coming from all over the country. We are one of the few craft fairs that offers this tier of quality.
“We want to inspire guests as well as provide a productive and great platform for our sellers. This is a really special event and the people here are highly skilled in their crafts.”
Tickets can be bought HERE. Adults cost £8 in advance or £9.50 on the door. Concessions are £7 in advance or £8.50 on the door. Children under 16 are free but need a complimentary ticket. (Eventbrite fees apply)
