Summer Expo ’24 – Call for Submissions

designermakers21 will be hosting our fourth Summer Open Exhibition from August 1st to 24th in the Upstairs Gallery.

Submissions are invited from artists over 18, professional or amateur. This year there will be a fee of £5 per entrant. The exhibition will remain free to visitors. This will be a friendly, fun and inclusive event celebrating local talent, so why not come and make an exhibition of yourself?!

Entry Requirements are:

  • 1 item per entrant (at the curator’s discretion)
  • First come first served, until we are full
  • Work is submitted at the artist’s own risk
  • Work must be delivered to designermakers21 between 25th and 27th July and collected after the exhibition on the 24th from 4pm, and before 31st August
  • All items must be clearly marked with the artist’s name or initials
  • A note must be included with your name, title or description of your work and your contact details so that your piece can be identified when you want it back!
  • We will sell your work for you if you wish
  • Payment for sales will be by bank transfer, less 20% commission (plus 2% for card sales)
  • Items for sale must be declared when delivered, with price and bank details included on your note
  • We aim to be as inclusive as possible but retain the right not to exhibit a piece that might be dangerous, offensive or simply not fit up the stairs!

Please register your interest via email to:

joy@jhmosaics.co.uk

and

kateweltonceramics@gmail.com

summer expo 2023 exhibition at designermakers21

‘Nurture’, An exhibition by East Anglian based Design Nation members | 4th – 27th July 2024

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Nurture (verb) – care for and protect (someone or something) while they are growing

Thursday 4th July to Saturday 27th July
Open Thursday-Saturday 10am to 5pm in the Upstairs Gallery at designermakers21

Saturday 20th July 11am-3pm – Meet the Makers


Design Nation is the leading membership portfolio for contemporary craft and design in the UK. The
East Anglian group hub was formed in 2020, and connects makers working from their studios in
Suffolk, Essex and Norfolk. Having met frequently over zoom for the past four years, six members
have come together to exhibit their work. ‘Nurture’ encapsulates an exploration of each maker’s
connections with their local environment.

Working across disciplines including Weave, Embroidery, Ceramics, French Beading and Mixed
Media, the conversations, and connections, between makers’ practices centre around becoming
increasingly environmentally conscious.

Makers draw upon a variety of backgrounds and experiences, from working in the fashion and textile
industry, to an increasing awareness of the amount of plastic in everyday life. The impact of human
activity and climate change on the East Anglian landscape, serve as a catalyst for all six makers to
strive to reduce the environmental impact of their work. Many utilise waste materials; transforming
single use plastic, paper pulp and nylon offcuts into highly tactile, contemporary art works, and
repurposing textile industry surplus yarns to create handwoven interior pieces.

Where materials cannot be repurposed, artists make conscious decisions about sourcing sustainable
materials, minimising waste and energy consumption. All seek to achieve balance and harmony with
the natural environment.

Featuring Work by:
Caroline Hyde-Brown
Holly Parr
Pamela Print
Lucie Summers
Kate Welton
Karen Whiterod

Showcase Exhibition | May – July 2024

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We are delighted to welcome three local artists to the Showcase for May, June & July.

Exhibiting work are Becky Whatley, Charlotte Todd and Matt Reeves.

Becky Whatley, back by popular demand, works wonders with wood, pyrography and oil paint to produce stunning pictures. Becky is also showcasing her needle felted creatures.

Charlotte Todd is presenting her collaged pieces. Made using repurposed materials, these pictures are very attractive.

Matt Reeves, of Wood Glow Designs, is displaying his hand crafted furniture and homewares.

Visit the Showcase gallery upstairs at designermakers21 every Thursday to Saturday 10am-5pm.

Huck Lace Embroidery Workshop with Sarah Boardman – Fundraising Event | Saturday 22nd June 10am-4pm, designermakers21

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Join Sarah Boardman in this special one day workshop in Swedish weaving or Huck embroidery. You will learn some basic stitches and work a small band that can be made into a card, bookmark, needle-case or similar. You will also be shown how to vary the design and how it can be used to create larger pieces.

No embroidery experience is necessary. Saturday 22nd June 10 – 4pm, £58 per person

Workshop price includes a full kit of materials.

This is a fundraising workshop kindly donated by Sarah to help designermakersCIO’s ‘Raise our Roof’ campaign.

Tickets available at deisgnermakers21, Maximum 8 people.

Huck Lace or swedish weaving embroidery workshop at designermakers21 on saturday 22nd june. tickets available now from designermakers21 £58 per person. this workshops is raising funds for designermakersCIO's Raise Our Roof appeal

REUSE IN ACTION, a day of Re-Use demonstrations and ‘Have-a-Go’ Craft activities | Saturday 11th May, 11am-3pm

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‘REUSE In Action’ on Saturday 11th May.

Come along 11am-3pm to watch ‘reuse’ demonstrations, and try out a range of Craft processes. Some activities may require booking on the day. Donations welcome to support designermakersCIO ‘Raise Our Roof’ fundraising for essential building repairs.

REUSE Exhibition runs from 4th-25th May in the upstairs gallery at designermakers21, open Thursday to Saturday 10am-5pm.

Reuse exhibition at designermakers21 4th-25th May 2024 in Diss, Norfolk

FREE ‘Have a Go’ Day, try out different Crafts with our members | Saturday 4th May, 11am-3pm

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Come along on Saturday 4th May between 11am-3pm and try out different Craft activities with our members and visiting artists!

Mosaic Fish with Joy Holden

Peg Loom Weaving with Karen Versfeld

Clay Pinch Pots with Kate Welton

Pyrography Handrails & Horns with David and Becky Whatley

Lino Print Cards with Mike Fenton & Annette Rolston

Pronto Plate Lithography with Paul Sharrock

This event is free to attend but donations are welcomed to designermakersCIO’s ‘Raise Our Roof’ building fund for essential maintenance.

mosaic fish have a go activity at designermakers21 Saturday 4th May

‘Spring into Action’ Grand Draw, dm21 fundraising for essential building repairs | *Grand Draw extended – Tickets on sale until Friday 3rd May*

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We are fundraising again here at designermakers21!

‘Spring into Action’ Grand Draw is raising funds for essential building repairs & improvements to 21 St Nicholas Street.

ONE lucky ticket holder will win this bundle of Craft, handmade by our members! Tickets are £5, and available from designermakers21 Thursday-Saturday between 10am and 5pm until Friday 3rd May.

The single winning ticket will be drawn at our Ceilidh night at Roydon Village Hall on Friday 3rd May. The prize winner will be notified by phone.

spring into action grand draw at designermakers21 until 27th April, tickets £5

Events Programme 2024

February

FREE ‘Have a Go’ afternoon, try out different Crafts with our members | 24.02.24 12pm-4pm

March/April

Print Exhibition | 21.03.24 – 20.04.24

‘Print in Action’ a day of demonstrations and workshops with our members and visiting artists | 13.04.24

May

Re-Use Exhibition | 02.05.24 – 25.05.24

‘On the Hoof’ Ceilidh at Roydon Village Hall, dm21 fundraising event | 03.05.24 (evening)

‘Have a Go’ day, try out different Crafts with our members | 04.05.24 11am-3pm

‘Re-Use in Action’ a day of demonstrations and workshops with our members | 11.05.24

June

Mosaic Workshop with member Joy Holden, dm21 fundraising event | 01.06.24

Diss High School Exhibition | 13.06.24 – 22.06.24

Swedish ‘Huck Lace’ Embroidery Workshop with Sarah Boardman, dm21 fundraising event | 22.06.24

July

Design Nation East Anglia Exhibition | 04.07.24 – 27.07.24

Meet the Artists (Saturday), with process demonstrations | 20.07.24

August

Summer Expo ’24, Public Open Art Exhibition | 01.08.24 – 24.08.24

September/October

Artist Salon with Essex Cultural Diversity Project at designermakers21 | 07.09.24 11am-3.30pm

‘SILICA’ Exhibition at Diss Corn Hall | 14.09.24 – 19.10.24

‘SILICA In Action’, a day of demonstrations by our members and visiting artists | 28.09.24

‘Draw Off’ between Diss and Hartismere Schools | 26.10.24 evening event

November

SAORI Weaving Exhibition | 07.11.24 – 28.11.24

Christmas Craft Fair at designermakers21 | 30.11.24

Showcase Exhibition| November 2023 – January 2024

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We are delighted to welcome three local artists to the Showcase for November, December & January.

Exhibiting work are Marna Alberts, Keri Lowe, and David Oates.

Marna Alberts is a local surface pattern designer. Marna has recently completed her Masters degree in textile Design, specialising in the combination of digital and screen printing processes.

Keri Lowe began her journey with textiles and felting, but has since turned her hands to ceramics, a practice she has enjoyed for over 30 years.

David Oates is a children’s book illustrator and author. David uses Gelli plate printing to create powerful, textured and colourful backgrounds, and uses ink and gouache to add illustrations or artwork on top.

Visit the Showcase gallery upstairs at designermakers21 every Thursday to Saturday 10am-5pm.

Norfolk Open Studios | 23rd September – 7th October 2023

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designermakers21 is taking part in Norfolk Open Studios again this September and October. The studios will be open 23rd, 24th, 28th, 29th, 30th September, and the 5th, 6th & 7th October 10am-5pm.

Come along and meet our members in their studios, learn about a variety of craft processes, and browse the work in the galleries.

On Saturday 7th October take part in Textiles in Action, a day of demonstrations and have-a-go sessions with resident and visiting textile artists.


norfolk open studios 2023