Co-collaboration maker space opens with a ching

The launch party was extremely well attended with the great and the good of industry showing up to support the new initiative conceived by Amanda Mansell.

Officially opened by Natalie Melton, the Executive Director of the Crafts Council, who congratulated Amanda with her huge achievement in navigating a multitude of complex requirements to get the ‘maker space’ off the ground and completed.  

Subsequently she has added that, “It’s the kind of creative space that should be occupying a place in towns and cities across the country as we reimagine what our high street and retail spaces are for.”

Amanda said, in her launch speech,

“I believe that this is a pivotal moment for the craft, trade and industry. A time when the opportunity for creatives, craftspeople, entrepreneurs and business can come together and converge to make a difference.

Post pandemic we are all re-evaluating, approaching life differently and this moment provides the space to flip things on its head, and try something new. We as a creative business community need to shake things up and think differently. FORGE is the first part of this new movement.

FORGE provides an opportunity to come together and work together.

FORGE isn’t a place for egos, it’s a place for collaboration and exchange.

FORGE will create change for the better.

Our vision is to ‘enrich lives through creativity’ and at the heart of this lies the belief that creativity is not only inspirational and nurturing but helps FORGE long lasting relationships, both professional and personal.”

Having FORGE open, with a very many large range of supporters demonstrates not only the goodwill of the trade in the concept of FORGE but also the need and appetite for change in industry.

FORGE can be found at 59 Leather Lane London EC1N 7TJ.