Cultural and craft thought leaders in the city, along with interior designers, architects, and buyers from leading galleries and retailers, attended an exclusive roundtable event on 7th July where eleven leading Northern-based designer-makers, who have been selected for this year’s Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair (GNCCF) showcased a piece of their work and talked about their inspiration and practice. 

The event was a collaboration between the GNCCF and OGS Works, the soon-to-launch, new co-work space within Old Granada Studios, and brought together key members of Manchester’s thriving craft and design scene together at the Bonded Warehouse at Allied London’s new neighbourhood, St. John’s.

The event was a taster for the GNCCF as well as offering the opportunity to find out why St. John’s will become an important hub in Manchester for the design and art community going forward; as it becomes a platform for growth; promoting, supporting, attracting, cultivating and retaining the very best in culture, enterprise and design within the North West, the UK and globally.

Makers taking part included ceramicist Nigel Matthews fresh from his appearance on the Great Pottery Throw Down; Tone Von Krogh, whose undulating ceramic vessels are inspired by her Scandinavian roots; Didsbury-based jeweller Jane Dzisiewski, who has developed an innovative process creating resin statement pieces; up-and-coming lighting designer Houda Kaddouh, glass sculptor Kira Meyer and furniture maker Suzanne Hodgson.

Tanya Grady from OGS Works said: “Old Granada Studios has supported Northern design talent through the GNCCF for the past three years and we are extremely proud to host an array of talented contemporary craft onsite every October. Creatives and designer-makers will form a key part of the OGS Works and St. John’s communities and our premier OGS Works event will share some of new plans for St. John’s, as well as giving guests an opportunity to preview the work of exciting GNCCF designers.”

Ann-Marie Franey, who set up the GNCCF with Angela Mann in 2008 said: “We’re really excited to be able to give people a taster of what’s to come from the GNCCF in October in association with OGS Works. It was fantastic to hear about the plans for Old Granada Studios and great to see that culture and enterprise will still be a key part of the plans, something that interests us as organisers of the GNCCF, and as lovers of contemporary craft and design.”