Launch of tex-craft.co.uk - Arts & Crafts for the 21st century
We’re excited to launch tex-craft.co.uk – a new sales and commissions platform for beautiful, useful, quality crafts made at The Exchange.
This is more than just a shop. The new platform is critical to The Exchange and its ambition, and celebrates years of community and collaboration, reflecting what’s possible when people learn, share skills and create together.
Through The Exchange’s Model for Craft, we invite people to work with us in one of two ways:
Making for Community Use – furniture, objects or tools to serve shared local spaces.
Making for Sale for Community Benefit – products that help sustain our programme and place.
We call all of these people Makers – some are just starting out, some are skilled and some are professional designers, artists and craftspeople. What unites them is a commitment to learn, to collaborate, and to give their time and talent to something bigger than themselves.
By taking part, they help us:
Keep the Old Library open and cared for
Run free community events and opportunities
Make space for more craft learning in Erith and Southeast London.
In “exchange”, these Makers gain skills at no cost, build connections and friendships, get access to quality equipment/materials, bring ideas to life and have the opportunity to work alongside some highly talented professional craftspeople, that have so far included Mentsen, Natalia Kasprzycka, Sara Kelly, AtelierThirtyFour, Merissa Hylton, Matthew Mead and Ho Lai.
The new tex-craft.co.uk shows what’s possible when we work together. Now, we’re inviting you to be part of it. Buy something made by our Makers for your home, a friend, your workplace or local community space. Or commission something new.
Every purchase makes the potential for craft learning and community stronger.
*The Exchange’s home is the Grade II listed Old Library, which was commissioned, designed and built by local people - local architect, builders, plasters, plumbers and carpenters. In its fabrication, local materials were used including locally made bricks and early example Crittall windows made down the road in the first Crittall factory in Sidcup. This heritage of community-driven initiatives and support for (and celebration of) local crafts underpins what we do, and how we do it today.
The Exchange is supported for its community, heritage and arts work from an amazing group of funders including: The Foyle Foundation, Andersons, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Arts Council and the National Lottery Community Fund.
Support the movement:
Visit tex-craft.co.uk
Follow us @tex.makers
Press enquiries: sarah@theexchangeerith.com
Discuss a bespoke project: tex@theexchangeerith.com
More about The Exchange
The Exchange is a community-founded, -owned and -led organisation that was set up to find a sustainable future for Erith’s Grade II listed Old Library. Using the heritage of the building, we are discovering a new future for it, one inspired by craft, community and empowerment. The Exchange regularly commissions makers and craftspeople to collaborate on community production projects, and works in partnership with other groups to realise their craft and social ambitions. Previous commissioners and collaborators include National Trust’s Red House (the home of Arts & Crafts pioneer William Morris), Museum of Homelessness, Intoart and Sarah Price Landscapes.