GREAT NORTHERN CONTEMPORARY CRAFT FAIR WINNERS ANNOUNCED

PRESS RELEASE: October 23, 2009

The North’s biggest and most prestigious craft and design event launched on Thursday (Oct 22), with more than 900 art-lovers, local dignitaries and gallery owners from all over the UK attending the preview evening.

The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair (October 22-25) opened in Manchester for its second year, and brought 142 designer-makers from across the UK, Europe and even India.

A diverse range of hand-made jewellery, lighting, ceramics, textiles and other homeware brought in visitors from far and wide to experience the preview evening and awards ceremony. The event was open to the public from Friday, October 23 to Sunday, October 25 (tickets £5).

Based in a hard-sided pavilion at Spinningfields, in the city centre, the GNCCF is now an established event in the craft and design world, and was set up to showcase Northern makers and bring a new Northern audience to all designer-makers.

Organiser Ann-Marie Franey said: “The preview evening was absolutely fabulous and couldn’t have gone better. We’ve had great feedback already, and all of our designer-makers are reporting good sales.”

Organiser Angela Mann added: “The second Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair has been even bigger and better than last year. We’d really like to thank all our sponsors and everyone who helped make this happen.”

GREAT NORTHERN CONTEMPORARY CRAFT FAIR 2009 AWARD WINNERS

Best in Show, £500 donated by a friend of GNCCF

Graham Muir, glass

Best Northern Maker, £500 prize sponsored by The Co-operative Bank

Louise Gardiner, embroidery

Best New Designer Maker, £250 prize donated by Pannone LLP

Sarah Stevenson, silverware