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| Craft in the Bay | |
|---|---|
| Name | Craft in the Bay |
| Alt | Craft in the Bay building |
| Established | 2003 |
| Location | Cardiff Bay, Wales |
| Type | Craft museum and gallery |
Craft in the Bay was a prominent crafts centre and gallery located on Cardiff Bay in Cardiff, Wales. The venue functioned as a public showcase for contemporary and traditional craft, engaging with institutions such as the National Assembly for Wales, the Arts Council of Wales, and the Museum of Welsh Life. It hosted exhibitions that connected makers with the networks of the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Crafts Council, and the British Council.
Established in 2003 amid regeneration initiatives tied to the Cardiff Bay Barrage project and the redevelopment led by the Welsh Development Agency, the centre emerged during cultural policy shifts associated with the Millennium Stadium era and the post-industrial transformation of South Wales. Early programming drew on partnerships with the National Museum Cardiff, the RCA (Royal College of Art), and the Glasgow School of Art. Exhibitions and commissions involved collaborations with makers linked to the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. The venue featured collections and touring shows from the British Museum, the V&A, and regional contributors such as the Glyndŵr University craft department. Over time, it engaged with initiatives funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Arts and Humanities Research Council, and local authorities coordinated with Cardiff Council. The centre's programming intersected with prominent events including Rugby World Cup fringe activities and cultural seasons associated with the Celtic Manor Resort and the Hay Festival circuit. Its role evolved alongside national debates represented in the Welsh Arts Council archives and strategic reviews by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Sited on the waterfront near Roald Dahl Plass and adjacent to the Senedd building, the centre occupied a strategic position within the Bay, offering proximity to landmarks such as the Wales Millennium Centre, the Pierhead Building, and Cardiff International Arena. The local marine environment of Cardiff Bay has historical links to the Bute Docks and the industrial heritage of Tiger Bay and Butetown. Maritime conditions influenced material choices and display conservation parallels with practices at the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea and maritime archives at the National Library of Wales. The site’s accessibility connected it to transport hubs like Cardiff Central railway station and the Cardiff Bay railway network, linking audiences from Bute Park and the Millennium Stadium catchment.
Programming featured a spectrum of media from traditional Welsh practices such as slate work associated historically with Dinorwic Quarry and Penrhyn Quarry, to contemporary materials explored by makers with links to the RCA, the Glasgow School of Art, and the Royal College of Art. Techniques showcased included ceramics tied to the legacy of Portmeirion Pottery, textile work reflecting influences from the Royal School of Needlework, and metalwork resonant with traditions practiced at the Blacksmiths’ Forge exemplified in regional craft histories. Exhibits examined conservation methodologies paralleled in the Victoria and Albert Museum, chemical treatments studied at the British Museum, and glazing processes developed in studio collaborations with the University of Wales Trinity Saint David.
Featured makers and objects ranged from contemporary jewellers influenced by designers associated with the Goldsmiths, University of London to ceramicists from studios linked to Sussex University craft clusters. The venue presented furniture commissions reflecting design approaches evident at the RIBA exhibitions and product design dialogues found at the Design Museum. Textiles on display drew connections to the Welsh Tapestry Project and historic samples conserved by the National Museum Cardiff. Collaborative projects brought work from craft practitioners known through networks including the Crafts Council, the British Council, and international partners like the Crafts Council of Ireland and the Scandinavian Design Forum.
The centre contributed to cultural tourism strategies articulated by Visit Wales and economic regeneration plans coordinated with the Welsh Government and the Welsh Development Agency. Its presence supported creative economy indicators tracked in reports by the Office for National Statistics and regional evaluations by Cardiff Council. Educational outreach connected to the Cardiff Metropolitan University, the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, and craft courses at the University of South Wales, while retail activities aligned with markets promoted by organizations such as the Crafts Council and the Federation of Small Businesses. The venue participated in cross-border cultural exchanges involving bodies like the British Council and the European Cultural Foundation.
The programme hosted exhibitions and events timed with broader festivals and conferences including the Hay Festival satellite events, Cardiff Festival programming, and collaboration with the Wales International Film Festival fringe. It staged talks and workshops featuring artists with profiles in events like the Chelsea Flower Show crossover installations and design symposiums paralleling the London Design Festival. Pop-up markets and craft fairs connected to national initiatives such as Make Works and touring exhibitions from the V&A Dundee.
Conservation practice at the centre referenced standards used by the National Museum Wales and shared expertise with conservation units at the V&A and the British Museum. Sustainability initiatives mirrored programmes promoted by the Arts Council of Wales and environmental commitments in Cardiff municipal policy. Projects explored life-cycle assessments similar to research at the University of Cambridge and sustainable materials dialogues engaged with networks including the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and the WRAP initiative.
Category:Arts in Cardiff Category:Culture in Wales