Made in the Middle

I visited Birmingham MAC to see the Made in the Middle exhibition showing a variety of contemporary craft from different artists and practitioners all based across the Midlands. Whilst visiting I was able to participate in the Careers in Making event where they gave talks about the different pathways into a different types of creative profession. The whole exhibtion showcased work from 35 makers that have all came from different pathways that have come from universities, apprenticeships, as asecond career and others ways. The theme has came from a concern for the effects on craft during economically challenging times. Most routes have come from further and higher education but recently it become aware that there has been a reduction of creative classes and course in schools and colleges, that push towards more achedemic subjects like science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) that threatens the creative practice. This reduction of interest and concern for the creative arts has reacted towards the theme of the exhibition that looks closely at the journey the practitioners have taken which was an important asspect of their selection for the exhibition.

Imogen Luddy

There were three talks from different people that assisted in the process of creating the exibition about 'Curration and Exhibition Management', 'Education and Participation in a Craft Organisation' and 'Arts administration'. Each talk described their part towards their contribution and completion of the exibition and they came to their careers linked to the making and promotion of craft.

Gill Wilson

These talks had really opened my eyes to a whole new possibility of career paths I could embark upon. I was under the impression that it would be impossible to just be a practitioner and that I'd need to have an additional career to make a live which would be teaching. Nothing wrong with teaching, but I was so un aware of different directions of working with craft that could be done. I know that volenteering is a good start and to work your way to more advanced and with more experience and training.

Michelle Arieu