South West region organising New Makers’ conference

The South West region of The Furniture Makers’ Company is partnering with Artichoke Ltd to organise a New Makers’ Conference to inform and steward designer-makers who are in the early stages of their career.

The event is taking place on Friday 2 June 2023 (9.30am-4.30pm) at the Wells Museum in Somerset.

The conference, which is being sponsored by Axminster Tools, will bring together experienced furniture designers and makers with those who are just starting out.

Speakers will include:

• John Makepeace, award winning designer-maker
• Bruce Hodgson, CEO and creative director at Artichoke
• Mark Boddington, founder of Silver Lining
• Katie Walker, independent designer-maker
• Eleanor Makelin, wood sculptor
• Hattie Speed, designer-maker and founder of ‘This Girl Makes’
• Sean Evelegh, fine woodworker and YouTuber
• Chris Hyde, director of curriculum design at Activate Learning, Rycotewood Furniture Centre.

David Dewing, chairman of the South West region, said: “We’ll be focusing on how new enterprises start and grow, exploring routes from training into business, and how to achieve results with effective marketing, exhibiting, and retailing. Stories will be shared – lessons learned from those who have been in the industry for many years and from those who have recently begun; what mistakes were made and where things worked out well. There will be lots of practical advice on how to survive the first five years.”

Tickets are £10 each with lunch included. Anyone wishing to attend can book through Eventbrite: https://bit.ly/NewMakers2023