Turning to TRADE SHOWS...

What is it: THE GREAT NORTHERN COUNTRY CRAFT FAIR (GNCCF)

Where's it at: SPINNING FIELDS, MANCHESTER

What's it all about: 

THE Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair at Spinningfields is recognised as one of the leading retail events for contemporary craft in the UK

• It attracts over 6000 visitors with collective exhibitor sales of over £200K.
• It showcases cutting edge contemporary craft to buy from over 150 selected designer-makers in- 
• ceramics
• glass
• jewellery
• interior and fashion textiles
• wood
• paper
• silver
• metal
• product design
• print-making and more.
• Visitors can spend the day in a relaxed yet stimulating atmosphere, chat to the makers about their work and buy or commission pieces directly from them.

The idea for the GNCCF was born out of a desire to champion craft in the North, to promote designer-makers and give them a much needed platform in the region to sell their work and to engage a new audience for contemporary craft in the North. 

The GNCCF has become a regular fixture in Manchester's cultural calendar and in 2011 it won Small Tourism Event of the Year at Manchester's Tourism Awards. It is supported by Arts Council England through the National Lottery Grant for the Arts.Some crafty statistics about the GNCCF!

• It showcases over 150 of the UK's leading designer-makers (and some international ones too), all selected by a prestigious panel of craft experts
• It attracts over 6000 visitors, 45% from outside of Gtr Manchester

Who's there:There are over 150 exhibitors in all of the areas mentioned above, some of my favourites include (Click the name links to read posts about each designer):

• Jacqueline Mulvaney, www.etsy.com/shop/mulvaneygirl
• Amy Lawrence, http://www.amylawrencedesigns.co.uk/82316/intro
• Claire Hillerby, http://www.clarehillerby.co.uk/index.htm
• Katie Stainer, http://www.katiestainer.co.uk/
• Hannah Sawtell, http://www.hannahsawtell.co.uk/

Felicity thinks:I'm gutted I"ve missed this for this year, I thinks it fab that people to come together to create wonderful events that celebrate a region- an understated one at that. So much goes on and so much is celebrated down the South it makes a refreshing change to celebrate what we have on our door step!