The Make Space

The Make Space is an area for activities and for showcasing local makers, alongside the Woman’s Hour Craft Prize.

Every weekend during the exhibition it will host one or more specially programmed events such as workshops, demonstrations and discussions, including several with the artists featured in the exhibition.

During the week local makers will take over the space for a few hours, presenting mini displays and drop in activities. It’s all part of a bumper summer of craft at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery.

When there are no events on, please use the Make Space by helping to create Museum Birdgarden – a community cross stitch/embroidery piece designed by Vicky Harrison of Crafting the City (see below).

Keep an eye out for changes and additions – or just drop in whenever you’re passing and see what’s happening. Do check back before you travel, as the events may change. Entry is included with exhibition entry unless otherwise stated. Buy an exhibition ticket once and it lets you in as many times as you like.

Factory
Saturday 7 – Sunday 8 July
Drop in during the weekend
Watch Rita Floyd, one of Stoke on Trent Potteries’ last fully trained ceramic flower makers, at work in Neil Brownsword’s installation.

Gordano Textile Artists
Tuesday 10 July
Drop in during the day
Gordano Textile are a group of 12 artists who are passionate about sharing their deep knowledge of textile techniques and inspirations. Join in with demonstrations and learn some stitches, or try your hand at weaving.

The Factory, Knowle West Media Centre
Wednesday 11 July
Drop in during the day
The Factory will be displaying and selling work by residents, artists, volunteers and local businesses.

Ceramics with Amanda Chambers
Friday 13- Saturday 14 July
Drop in during the weekend
Multi-disciplinary fine artist Amanda Chambers demonstrates the Japanese ceramics technique of ‘throwing from the hump.’ She will be talking about her projects including her miniature tea pots, the influence of Japan, and the making process.

Mosaic with Toni Burrows
Tuesday 17 July
Drop in during the day
Toni Burrows uses recycled materials to create beautiful mosaics. Browse her mosaic pieces and discuss the process. A range of cards, books and prints will be available for sale.

Living Sculptures with Lou Baker
Wednesday 18 July
Drop in during the day
Lou Baker blurs the boundary between craft and fine art by developing established knitting and stitch techniques to make soft sculptures which provoke a range of conflicting responses. Try on some incredible wearable soft sculptures with an optional photo shoot.

The Design Trust: How to create a profitable creative business – workshop
Wednesday 18 July
Book in advance
Join The Design Trust for this great workshop. From uncovering your niche to setting business goals, improving your marketing or answering your finance questions – this is a must for makers and small creative businesses.

Machine embroidery with Emma Giacalone
Thursday 19 July
Drop in during the day
Emma Giacalone is a textile artist who specialises in freehand machine embroidery. During this session, you will be able to watch the construction of this fabric artwork, to understand the process of drawing with thread, and even contribute to the finished artwork.

Fabric dolls with Javiera Morales
Friday 20 July
Drop in during the day
Browse the display of fabric dolls and watch Javiera Morales demonstrate how to make them – you can even have a go yourself.

Woven rugs and textiles with Angie Parker
Saturday 21 July
Drop in during the day
Join Angie Parker and learn new weaving and textile skills in this weaving workshop. Browse the display of rugs, textile work, tools and information.

Mending with Celia Pym
Sunday 22 July, 10.30am – 1pm and 2pm – 4.30pm
£12 adult / £10 concession
Book in advance
Learn and develop skills in woven and ‘knitted’ darning. Bring along any damaged items that you would like to repair (optional). Materials provided.

Make a wooden planter with Tammy Crawford-Rolt
Tuesday 24 July
Drop in during the day
Join Tammy Crawford-Rolt for a drop-in workshop in woodwork and make your own small indoor hanging planter.

Clifton Quilters
Wednesday 25 July
Drop in during the day
Clifton Quilters are enthusiastic about patchwork and quilting, both by hand and machine.  Assist with the design or stitch patches which will be incorporated into one of the finished quilts.

Recycled ‘knitted portraits’ with Laura Porter
Thursday 26 July
Drop in during the day
Laura Porter demonstrates her abstract knitted portrait work. Have a go on a loom and browse the products for sale.

Bristol Lacemakers
Friday 27 July
Drop in during the day
A lace making workshop with demonstrations, Q&A’s and talks about the origins of lace as well as teaching beginners how to make lace.

Crafting the City curates…
Saturday 28 July, 11am – 4pm
Drop in
Join Fi Harris and other members of the Avon Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers for a day of ‘tasters’ and demonstrations. Watch spinning, knitting and weaving and have a go at ‘fill the gap’ braiding, peg-loom weaving and big knitting.

Bouncing Bobbins
Sunday 29 July
Drop in
Local lace makers will demonstrate and teach the basic bobbin lace making techniques.

Glass engraving with Jessica Bartlett
Tuesday 31 July
Drop in during the day
Explore the displays of Jessica Bartlett’s glass work, tools and drawings with discussions of her work process.

Live body painting with Amanda Cooper
Wednesday 1 August
Drop in during the day
Join Amanda Cooper for a live demonstration of beautiful body painting.

Lino cuts and other prints with Bristol Print Collective
Thursday 2 August
Drop in during the day
Bristol Print collective is a trio of artists who deliver printmaking workshops. Join them for a demonstration of lino cut techniques and stitched prints, and take rubbings of pre-prepared lino cuts.

FORMcard with Peter Marigold
Saturday 4 August
Drop in during the day
Watch sculptor and designer Peter Marigold at work moulding his patented invention, FORMCard. 

Millinery with Chloe Haywood
Sunday 5 August
Drop in during the day
Join passionate fashion artist Chloe Haywood for a headpiece workshop. Have a go at making your own beautiful headpiece using various fabrics, straw, beads and wire. Once you’ve finished you can have your own selfie photoshoot (optional) with your homemade headpiece, and the chance to win a prize for the best selfie!

Tufted textiles and furnishings with Anna Gravelle
Tuesday 7 August
Drop in during the day
Accompany Anna Gravelle and browse the displays of pieces of tuft work textiles/furnishings, plus a film showing how the process works; inviting feedback from visitors.

Cast sculpture with Holly Bennett
Wednesday 8 August
Drop in during the day
Join Holly Bennett as she demonstrates sculpture making and the process, displaying work at various stages of completion, as well as finished sculpture work.

Silversmithing with Kim Thomson
Thursday 9 August
Drop in during the day
Silversmith Kim Thomson will be displaying work and demonstrating cutting shapes.

Resin encapsulating with George Harding
Friday 10 August
Drop in during the day
George Harding displays resin work and shows the process of resin-encapsulating through photographs, film and examples of components at different stages of completion.

Talk by Neil Brownsword
Saturday 11 August, 3pm – 4pm
Book in advance
Neil Brownsword makes installations using ceramics, performance and film. His recent work has highlighted the risk of losing traditional skills in the British ceramics industry.

Bristol Etsy Group
Saturday 11- Sunday 12 August
Drop in during the weekend
Join Bristol Etsy Group members who will be showcasing a wide variety of skills including candle making, felting, badge-making and lasercut jewellery.

Museum Birdgarden
Monday 13 August, 10am – 1pm
The Make Space is available for adding to the stitch graffiti piece.

Learn to crochet
Monday 13 August, 1.30pm – 4.30pm
Emma Bassey – crochet group. Join in and learn to crochet!

Museum Birdgarden
Tuesday 14 August
Drop in during the day
The Make Space is available for adding to the stitch graffiti piece.

Leathercraft with Esther Keen
Wednesday 15 August
Drop in during the day
Learn the art of leathercraft with Esther Keen who will be teaching how to make a card-holder, purse, key fob or cuff. Esther will also have her own work available to buy.

Ceramics with Mary Watson
Thursday 16- Friday 17 August
Drop in during the weekend
Spend the day with Mary Watson from Mareware ceramics and watch her demonstrate the process of making a ‘Lovely Lady’ ceramic vessel. She’ll be running short pottery workshops on wheel-throwing on the Friday, sign-up for these with Mary on Thursday. Mary will also have work available to buy.

Vellum with Laura Youngson Coll
Saturday 18 August
Drop in during the day
Find out how Laura Youngson Coll manipulates this super-fine material into detailed, delicate sculptures.

Spinning with Sarah Harris
Sunday 19 August
Drop in during the day
Watch out Sleeping Beauty! Sarah Harris will be bringing her replica medieval great wheel to the Make Space. Pop in and have a go! The wheel is turned by hand, while you step back and forth in a slow dance, spinning and winding thread.

Upholstery with Harriet Page
Tuesday 21 August
Drop in during the day
Explore upholstery with Harriet Page and watch her demonstrating upholstering a chair, displaying a ‘half-made’ sample chair and a series of smaller items which will also be for sale.

Silk scarves and quilting with Jessica de Salis
Wednesday 22 August
Drop in during the day
Contribute to a quilt which Jessica de Salis will be making in the space. She will also be displaying and selling her colourful silk scarves.

The art of making books with Corinne Welch and Cathey Webb
Thursday 23 August
Drop in during the day
Join Corinne Welch and Cathey Webb and browse a display of hand-made books and learn to make simple folded books. Grab yourself an instruction handout to take away.

Wire-woven jewellery with Holly Berkley
Friday 24 August
Drop in during the day
Holly Berkley is a wire work artist and teacher. She will be demonstrating the art of wire woven flowers and displaying her finished crowns, lapel flowers and wire work bonsai. You can also learn to make your own beaded ring to take away (£10 fee).

Crafting the City curates…
Saturday 25 – Sunday 26 August
Drop in during the weekend
Saturday: Bristol Quilters demonstration
Sunday: Vicky Harrison of Crafting the City will run a session of her project THREAD and teach people a modern version of Bayeux Tapestry stitch. All abilities welcome.

Jewellery with Sarah Cammish
Tuesday 28 August
Drop in during the day
Jewellery designer Sarah Cammish will be demonstrating how to make hair pins using Swarovski pearls and crystals. She’ll also show you how to make your own beaded flower.

Conceptual textiles with Marina Iodice
Wednesday 29 August
Drop in during the day
Discover conceptual textiles and contemporary sculptures with Marina Iodice. Explore her displays of sewn sculptures and help her sew another sculpture.

Woodwork with Irene Banham
Thursday 30 August
Irene Banham aspires to make furniture which combines engineering and art. Browse her handmade furniture, tools and materials as she describes the process of making her woodware, from conception to completion.

Bath Knitting and Crochet Guild
Friday 31 August
Drop in during the day
Join Bath Knitting & Crochet guild, and have a go at knitting and crochet. It’s their 40th Anniversary in 2018! Have a chat with the artists about their work and what makes them special.

Bristol Lace Group
Sunday 2 September
Drop in during the day
Bristol Lace Group will be demonstrating a wide variety of lace techniques and styles in different colours. Have a go and make a simple lace bookmark.

Museum Birdgarden
Available when nothing else is on
Drop in during the day
Inspired by a week spent drawing at the Eden Project, Vicky Harrison has created Museum Birdgarden – a large piece of even weave fabric that uses images of her sketches. There will be a basket of specially chosen yarn for visitors to add to the work. A table and some instructions will be provided so that you can sit with your friends to stitch. This is an adult only activity, suitable for beginners or experienced stitchers.

Image: Factory with Rita Floyd, 1, 2017, photo: Korea Ceramic Foundation. © Victoria and
Albert Museum, London