Keynote - Rosy Greenlees: New Routes to Sustainability – strategies for realising craft’s potential

Abstract

The constantly shifting dynamic between craft and design is at the crux of this keynote address, which challenges us all to progress the debate on craft and sustainable development.

I begin by briefly reviewing the valuable progress made in this area of critical enquiry over the past five years. Specifically, I outline the assumptions we are now able to make regarding the value of craft knowledge and skills - both as impetuses to materials and product lifecycle innovation, and as tools for communicating about environmental and ethical issues. In doing so, I suggest that we now seek to build on this knowledge, looking beyond the issue of value to also consider actual mechanisms by which craft’s innovation potential can be best fulfilled within the sustainable development movement.

In opening up this debate, I consider the current status of craft practice, as defined by its relationship with design. I outline the impact of developments in communications and manufacturing technology, and of shifts in consumer values: in particular, I explore collaboration as an impetus to creative craft and design innovation.

I propose that interdisciplinary collaboration, bridging craft with science, technology and engineering, is one strategy with particular significance for the sustainable development agenda. Referring to new examples in the fields of environmental sustainability and social innovation, I show how makers and STEM subject professionals are working together: both to frame environmental and ethical research questions rooted in real-world issues, and to pool the resources needed to find solutions. In the process, I explore how – at its best – such collaboration can unite distinctive yet complementary ways of seeing, understanding and responding to the world.

This approach presents the craft sector with both opportunities and challenges, particularly in terms of ‘mainstreaming’ progressive approaches to craft and design practice. Collaborative programmes, supported by universities and sector support agencies, play a vital role. Yet public spending cuts are underpinned by a political and institutional separation of the arts and humanities from the sciences, technology and engineering. Focusing particularly on education, I conclude by exploring specific challenges posed by education reforms at school level and by Higher Education funding priorities, outlining the Crafts Council’s strategy for addressing these challenges through advocacy and research.