London Craft Week 2024: what to see and do from V&A's Craft Symposium to National Army Museum's sword-making
It’s London Craft Week, a week in which galleries and museums across the city celebrate global craftsmanship with a series of illuminating events, from workshops and exhibitions, to talks and fairs.
Now celebrating its 10th edition, this year’s London Craft Week programme includes collaborative events with some of London’s top cultural institutions, from the Royal Museums Greenwich, The Design Museum, Leighton House and Hauser & Wirth, to the Natural History Museum, the Barbican Centre and William Morris Gallery.
“It seems like yesterday that The King & Queen launched the first London Craft Week in 2015. Now, in our 10th year, we host over 225,000 visitors, 520 events and 700 artists and makers,” said Guy Salter, chairman of the festival. “Our aims remain the same: to bring alive exceptional craftsmanship from across the UK and around the world by tapping into the energy, diversity and serendipity of our city.”
With more than 200 events listed on this year’s jam-packed roster, here’s our pick of events not to miss.
Another Excuse: The Works of Fredrik Nielsen at Charles Burnand Gallery
Swedish glass artist and LOEWE International Craft Prize finalist Fredrik Nielsen presents a series of works that push the boundaries of glass sculpture.
14 May 2024 - June 28 2024, Free
Objects of Contemplation at Hauser & Wirth London
Focusing on contemporary craft, this show displays the works of 19 artist-makers, selected from five years of exhibitions at Make Hauser & Wirth’s Somerset gallery space.
14 May 2024 - June 2, 2024, Free
Botanical Tin Embossing Workshop with Meg Fatharly at Natural History Museum
Spend a gorgeous couple of hours at the Natural History Museum, guided by printmaker and collage artist Meg Fatharly to learn how to emboss tin, using nature as inspiration.
15 and 16 May 2024, 11:00 - 13:30, 14:30 - 17:00, £60
A Fine Line: Modern Makers at Pitzhanger Manor, curated by Joanna Bird
Inspired by Sir John Soane’s legacy, this exhibition, curated by potter and gallerist Joanna Bird, displays a series of extraordinary works that play with process and expand typical definitions of ceramics and glassworks. For the late-night reception, Bird will speak to artists Joseph Harrington and Gregory Warren Wilson.
Exhibition, 15 May 2024 - 18 May 2024, 10:00 - 17:00; Talk, 16 May 2024, 17:00 - 19:45, from £9
Craft Symposium at V&A
There are eight events taking place at the V&A for London Craft Week, from demonstrations by four contemporary British silversmiths to a display of couture skills and a ceramics presentation. Don’t miss its Craft Symposium, a day of panel discussions and keynote talks on subjects such as modern luxury, digital technology and the future of craft.
16 May 2024, 10:00 - 13:00, £10
Weaving Demonstration at Barbican Centre
Inspired by Unravel: The Power and Politics of Textiles in Art – the Barbican’s current principal exhibition, which the Standard described as “never less than fascinating” – this demonstration from artist Christabel Balfour introduces guests to some of the skills that go into the enduring craft.
16 May 2024, 16:00 - 19:00, Free
Sword-making at National Army Museum
Watch Robert Pooley (whose company, Pooley Sword, is the leading supplier of swords to the British Armed Forces) explain with various blades how modern day ceremonial swords are made. The demonstration, which touches on techniques and design inspirations, will be introduced by curator Sophie Stathi who will explain a short history of swords in the British Army.
16 May 2024, 18:30 - 20:30, £12
Yemeni Embroidery Workshops at Leighton House
In this special workshop Nouria Nagi, founder of Yemen Noor Foundation for Education and Relief, will guide guests as they are introduced to some of the key patterns and techniques of Yemeni embroidery (though all levels catered for), a vanishing art form.
18 May 2024, 10:00 - 13:00, £65
Workshop: Build the Enzo Mari Sedia P Chair at The Design Museum
Expensive, but this workshop is a rare opportunity to work with design duo Rubino Wilson to make a chair inspired by one of Enzo Mari’s famous works. The five-hour workshop will also delve into Mari’s design philosophy, which was focused on the democratisation of design. Meanwhile, a retrospective of hundreds of the maverick Italian industrial designer’s projects is running at The Design Museum.
18 May 2024, 10:00 - 16:00, £200
Indigo Dyeing with Abiola Onabulé at Royal Museums Greenwich
Fashion designer Abiola Onabulé will guide guests through the techniques that go into making the Yoruba-designed indigo dyed cloth, Àdìrẹ, while explaining the history of indigo.
19 May 2024, 13:30 - 17:00, £15
London Craft Week, May 13-19; londoncraftweek.com
