Craftspace celebrates 40 years of craft making in the Midlands with new exhibition
Craftspace is celebrating 40 years of craft making in the Midlands and beyond with a new craft commission ‘40 Objects for 40 years’.
It is created by Stewart Francis Easton and goes on display at Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) on 14 February 2026.
Commissioned by Craftspace, this new textile mural invites visitors to explore Craftspace’s 40-year story through 40 objects, chosen by staff and board members as important and meaningful from the last 40 years.
The work will be four quilted wall hangings which will have illustrations of each object.
Over 40 years, Craftspace have curated and commissioned work by 2500 artists in over 500 exhibitions viewed by 2.8million people working in the Midlands and across the UK, as well as getting around 265000 people making and engaging in meaningful craft interactions.
The objects featured on the new textile mural span the last 40 years and include the office biscuit tin which has lived many lives with Craftspace as a chocolate box, a sewing kit box, a project box, a material box and now its most precious role as the office biscuit tin.
Other items include Claire’s Coming Out Dress (2000), co-commissioned by Craftspace and Nottingham Castle Museum for Grayson Perry as he launched his alter-ego Claire to the artworld; Craftspace’s Installation Toolbag, well used and essential kit used by the organisation to set up over 500 exhibitions and projects; Head Pots (2005), Jon Williams Treasure Boxes, an early years resource encouraging open ended experimental family play by adding wet clay onto the ceramic vessels and a Swallow Brooch (2012) from Shelanu’s Migrating Birds jewellery range, created with Birmingham jeweller Rita Patel.
Deirdre Figueiredo, director of Craftspace, said: “Craft and making is a foundational skill practised by humans and remains as vital and progressive now as it has for centuries.
“When people are making, they are problem-solving, productive, mindful and resourceful.
“Making things from everyday and natural materials can be a unifying force for good, a means of self-expression and a form of resistance and resilience in challenging times. It is this force for good approach we’ve channelled over the last 40 years.”
Artist Stewart Easton said: “I feel that I am part of Craftspace’s story after successfully working with them on several projects.
“The first being Making Moves and second Gathering Craftspace has supported me from the beginning of my career through to the mid stage.
“I have garnered a wealth of experience since the early days of Making Moves and have successfully worked on projects both nationally and Internationally.
“Craftspace was one of the first organisations to support me and it helped propel me forward, I would like this opportunity to give something back.”
