Cockpit Arts

This a bit of a cheat blog as I'm getting lazy in my old age! haha! It's the most recent newsletter from Cockpit Arts as is chock full of exciting design info, their Open Studio events are always fantastic with a huge variety of goodies to buy direct from the Designer Makers..so excuse the blatant plageurism (sp?!)..and the dreadful spelling..xx

Maker Difference

We want to whip up support for talented, independent designer-makers creating work in the UK. So this June we are launching ‘Maker Difference’, a year long campaign to highlight the virtues of buying beautifully made, unique pieces. Get involved, find out about our special events and look out for our Maker Difference microsite by I-D Media - packed with tips, guides, films and the latest designs.
(Image: Yoyo Maker by Yoyo Ceramics)

Summer Open Studios

The Maker Difference campaign springs into action with our renowned Open Studios. We have two venues, two different sets of designer-makers for you to meet and thousands of designs for you to see. Fabulous fashion buys, cool home collectables and more from £5 - £5,000. What’s more the events are FREE to attend.

Cockpit Arts Holborn: Fri 12 June, 7pm-9pm and Sat 13 June-Sun 14 June, 11am-6pm

Cockpit Arts Deptford: Fri 19 June, 6pm-9pm and Sat 20 June-Sun 21 June, 11am-6pm


(Image: Wallpaper by Lizzie Allen)

Trails, Tours & More

For Maker Difference our Open Studios will be full of special attractions:

* Star Buys treasure trail by 2008/09 cool brand Beyond the Valley.
* Quick Collect bite-sized tours by collecting experts including Corrine Julius (Design Critic), Yvonna Demczynska (Director of Flow Gallery) and Jacqueline Gestetner (Collector).
* Love Your Stuff evolving gallery.
* Pop up cafés by East Dulwich Deli and Kennards Good Foods.

(Image: Lemon Squeezer by Sena Gu)



Makers Makes

Looking to get creative? Our designer-makers have also created an array of free Open Studios activities for adults and children:

* Badge Making with Bubsie
* Knitting Mice with Laura Long
* Throwing Pots with Katie Bonham
* Letterpress Printing with SORT (work pictured)
* Inlaying Ceramics with Liz Emtage
* Pottery Puzzles with Jo Heckett
* Tool Time with Angie Boothroyd, carréducker and Richard Mattingly


Get Connected

Look out for special events for budding designer-makers at Open Studios including: Meet the Team sessions, so you can find out how we can help you develop your practice and Design Shorts mini documentaries about designer-makers.

For further opportunities, as well as information about business support and professional development, subscribe to our designer-maker e-newsletter today.




Shimmering Successes in Jewellery

Open Studios is part of Coutts London Jewellery Week 09 and in the lead up Cockpit jewellers are hitting the headlines. Ruth Tomlinson and Rachel Galley are proud recipients of Coutts New Jeweller Awards and Ornella Iannuzzi and Stepan Terteryan are winners of prestigious Goldsmiths' Craftsmanship & Design Awards. This May you can see new pieces by Jacqueline Cullen at 'Collect' and by Jane Adam at the 'Focus' exhibition at Contemporary Applied Arts.

Go Shop in Greenwich!

Our Deptford designer-makers are taking Greenwich by storm. Lush Designs’ shop is brimming with their latest colourful, folksy interior accessories. Look out for Emma Nissim’s new boutique, selling clothing and accessories for men and women - including her collection inspired by cockney rhyming slang and work by guest designer Allison Wiffen. Don’t miss ‘The Pop UP Shop’ by Debbi Little (work pictured) starring her stunning parachute dresses, as well as re-structured clothing by Inkeri Medley and vintage inspired lighting and cushions by Lost and Found.






Instrumental Design

If you are interested in musical instruments we have a treat lined up for you at Open Studios in Deptford. Tobye Le Vaillant, winner of Cockpit Arts/NADFAS Award ’09, will be showing at Cockpit for the first time.

With the help of a £3,000 award from the National Association of Decorative & Fine Arts Societies, Tobye is keeping the craft of Baroque musical instrument making alive

Movers & Shakers in Silver

Here is a hot tip - silversmiths at Cockpit Arts Deptford are creating a big buzz. Sotheby’s is auctioning three spectacular new pieces by Ndidi Ekubia, and Grant Braithwaite will be exhibiting at the 'Silver with a pinch of salt' exhibition at Goldsmiths’ Hall. Maya Selway (work pictured) was also commended at Goldsmiths’ Craftsmanship and Design Awards this year, and her short film collaboration ‘Metalpleater’ commissioned by Artangel will be screened at NFT and at Open Studios in Deptford.



Hold your Event at Cockpit

Looking for a central or South East London meeting or events room?

We have large, bright spaces in both Holborn and Deptford which are ideal for meetings, seminars, classes, receptions and photo shoots. Hire fees start from as little as £21 per hour for education and community groups at Holborn and £15.65 per hour at Deptford. For more details email cathy@cockpitarts.com.



For more information about Cockpit Arts events and activities visit www.cockpitarts.com



Cockpit Arts is the UK’s only creative business incubator for designer-makers Cockpit Arts Limited is a registered charity (no. 1029643) and a company limited by guarantee (no. 2801969) registered in England and Wales. Registered office: Cockpit Yard, Northington Street, London, WC1N 2NP.


April 2009