Celebrated for its artistic activities and events, London has always been a sought-after capital for many arts-lovers, as well as for a key hub for the arts and design sector. From late 19th century onwards, England has commenced a so-called ‘Arts and Crafts Movement’, which has a huge impact on the rise of aesthetics. Key advocates at that time, John Ruskin (1819-1900) and William Morris (1834-1896), resisted industrialised production and campaigned for the return of traditional arts and crafts, so that the people can be surrounded by art. Earlier in May, two large-scale expos were held in London – London Craft Week and Clerkenwell Design Week – which I will outline below.

London Craft Week

Following the successful event last year, the organiser of London Craft Week has expanded the show to include multiple venues across the city, hosting over 130 activities to attract visitors. Participating craftsmen include Julian Stair and Kate Malone, while Vanguard and Cockpit Arts were among the studios featured. Even major art galleries such as V&A Museum and the Royal Academy of Arts took part in it, while top retail brands, such as CHANEL and LOEWE, were also featured. Evidently, the London Craft Week has proved a successful platform to connect individuals, public bodies and businesses, as well as in opening up opportunities within the arts and crafts market. The event has also promoted exchange and communication within the sector. Most importantly, it has encouraged more people to engage with arts and crafts.

To help expo visitors travel to and fro the different venues, the organiser has provided an activity guide that detailed the different event venues. The wide range of activities in the expo (such as exhibition showcase, seminars, guiding tours and workshops) appeals greatly to the visitors, while the contents of these events were also very engaging. Other than the more typical crafts such as ceramics, goldsmith, textiles, leather products and woodwork, there you could find special arts and crafts such as papercut, tailoring, printing, fragrances and instrument-making, capturing the wide range of artistic craftsmanship. As Guy Salter, Chairman of London Craft Week, pointed out, London has always been an important city for global lifestyle and design trends, and the addition of London Craft Week has helped to bring together imagination, creativity, passion and craftsmanship, while showcasing the best of products.

Clerkenwell Design Week

Compared to the multiple venues of London Craft Week, the participants of Clerkenwell Design Week are located mainly in London’s East End. With event venues in proximity, the expo can easily appeal to a targeted audience. Having run for eight consecutive years, the organiser has – through diligent efforts and promotion – become one of the leading independent design expos in the UK. In 2012, it received the ‘Best Festival’ and ‘Best Cultural Event’ accolade from the UK’s Event Awards. Taking this year’s festival as an example, Clerkenwell Design Week has attracted over 300 enterprises and 35,000 visitors. The initiative not only offered a facelift to the abandoned factories and  shops in London’s East End, transforming these places into trendy entertainment locations, it has also helped to attract many arts and crafts as well as design brands to London’s East End, rejuvenating the living environment in the region.

Focused on the design of products, Clerkenwell Design Week features design of audiovisual appliances, furniture, textiles, flooring, lighting and products associated with interior design. To complement the architectural environment and land use in the region, various manufacturers have come up with remarkably innovative and delightful design showcase. In this design week, visitors could learn about the latest products from leading international brands and explore the latest innovations made by emerging designers. The expo showcase also served as an arts hub, offering a place for practitioners to meet and network with each other, as well as to discuss the future developments of the design industry.