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1326: Crafts and rural development

This paper is summarised from ‘Craft and Rural Development’ by Dr Karen Yair, Research and Information Manager at the Crafts Council

Year of Publication2011

The contribution of creative businesses to rural development should be recognised more and barriers addressed.  A rural ‘town of craft’ adapted from the Hay Festival could function successfully. Craft businesses can support the evolution of vibrant, distinctive and colourful rural high streets, encourage innovation by rural businesses and help local business networks and supply chains to grow. Barriers to growth include inadequate education and transport infrastructures, poor political support, restrictions on land use, a paucity of rural business investors, and the dispersal of high level skills across a wide geographical area. Employment in creative jobs remains concentrated in the most accessible rural areas.

This item is categorised as follows

• Subject Collection > Tourism & recreation > Tourism business development
• Subject Collection > Rural policy & development > Economic development
• Subject Collection > Tourism & recreation
• Subject Collection > Land-based crafts > Woodland crafts
• Subject Collection > Land-based crafts > Traditional building crafts
• Subject Collection > Land-based crafts > Walling, fencing & footpaths

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