This seventh and most recent exhibition in the Made in the Middle series marks the inclusion of the East Midlands to celebrate craft practice across the whole region.
In a changing economic climate, this Made in the Middle considered Pathways to Craft, drawing out various routes to careers in making. The aim of the exhibition was to demonstrate alternative ways to making as a career, not only through the exhibitors' experiences but also through the action research project Apprenticeships in the Making. You read more about this project in the Resources section Apprenticeships in the Making 2012 and watch the film of the project Videos
The exhibition was curated into a number of sections including: The Tradtional Path, Apprenticeships to Making, and Making as a Second Career which explored routes to practice. The exhibition also considered how, once established, makers diversify their income or keep their practice relevant and fresh. These themes were considered through the following sections: Diversification of Practice, Diversification from Making and Developing New Pathways. You can read more about the exhibition themes in the 2012 catalogue Catalogues or the 2012 exhibition blog
The 2012 exhibition was selected by Michael Eden, ceramicist; Teleri Lloyd-Jones, Assistant Editor, Crafts magazine; Craig Ashley, Producer, Visual Arts, mac birmingham; Melanie Kidd, Head of Exhibitions, The National Centre for Craft & Design, Hayley Banks, Project Officer, Design Factory and Heather Rigg, Director, Designer Maker West Midlands. It was curated by Emma Daker, Craftspace; Craig Ashley mac birmingham and Liz Cooper, The National Centre for Craft & Design.