The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair Online Provides Boost for Designer-Makers

The Crafts Council’s recent landmark survey ‘Market for Craft’ showed that 84% of makers surveyed cited fairs as their foremost revenue source. With the majority of  fairs cancelled due to the pandemic, the impact on makers has been devastating.

Manchester’s award winning Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair (GNCCF) was one such casualty.  The annual GNCCF is one of the top fairs in the UK for makers and a highlight in the city’s cultural and shopping calendar, attracting over 6000 visitors and achieving sales of £200K. In 2020, this much loved show was looking forward to celebrating its thirteenth edition in its new home Victoria Baths.

Undeterred by the pandemic, Great Northern Events, the not for profit company who organise the GNCCF, are ensuring the show must go on, albeit online, to support makers at this, their most lucrative, time of year.  The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair online, known as GNCCFonline, will take place over the weekend of 21-22 Nov 2020 and, with over 150 exhibitors to buy from, it promises to be the perfect Christmas shopping experience, all from the comfort and safety of your home.

The work for sale will be the same curated showcase of designer-makers and artists you’ve come to expect from the live shows. As ever, they have been handpicked to give you the best in handmade designs and beautiful craftsmanship, with jewellery, textile accessories, print, furniture, lighting, ceramics, glass available to buy. Over a third of makers selected for GNCCFonline will be exhibiting for the first time, joining some familiar faces who will be showcasing and launching new collections for Christmas.

Director Ann-Marie Franey said: 

"Makers have been particularly hard hit financially with the cancellation of events and closure of galleries. Through GNCCFonline, visitors will be able to shop exquisite craft all in one place and will be supporting the craft community in the process. What’s more being online our customer reach for makers is global.”

All work is handmade and no two items are quite the same. So, if you want to own something that no-one else does, scroll through the makers on the website and find something you love for the people you love. The online fair goes live from 9am Saturday 21 November and is on all weekend.

Fair Director, Angela Mann said: 

“Buying your Christmas presents from a fair like the GNCCFonline, or indeed treating yourself, means you are giving or receiving something truly special and unique, at a time when we all need to be nice to ourselves and others.”

The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair is supported by the Arts Council England through  National Lottery Project Grants.