Announcing Craft Aotearoa Charitable Trust

It gives us great pleasure to announce that Craft Aotearoa has been approved as a Charitable Trust and is now registered with the Charities Commission. Our registeration number is CC47849.

We are grateful for the support of Phillippa Wilkie of Chapman Tripp and also the support of our friends, craft practitioners and those organisations who have contributed advice and support to date - thank you for walking this journey with us.

As a demand-led organisation, we are looking forward to delivering projects as per our charitable objectives and proposed activities, and in response to the results of the current 2012 New Zealand Craft Survey.

Our charitable purposes are to:

• advance and encourage the exercise/practice of craftsmanship and the continued creation of craft work of a high standard in New Zealand;
• preserve and improve craftsmanship in New Zealand; 
• foster, promote and increase the understanding, knowledge and interest of the New Zealand public about craft and craftsmanship; 
• advance the education and development of children and young people in schools and tertiary institutes in craft and craftsmanship; 
• advance education and learning opportunities for the New Zealand public in craft and craftsmanship;
• undertake research into the craft sector and its profile in New Zealand and make the results available to inform business planning, education programs and employment services; 
• encourage employment into the craft sector including through facilitating careers advice to potential candidates and facilitating apprenticeships; 
• for any other purposes within New Zealand (whether relating to the relief of poverty, the advancement of education or religion or any other matter beneficial to the community) which are charitable according to the laws of New Zealand.

In order to achieve the charitable purposes, it is proposed that the Trust undertakes the following activities:

• facilitate craft artist residences, scholarships and awards and other learning opportunities relating to craft and craftmanship in schools and tertiary institutes;
• facilitate craft master-classes, workshops, lectures and seminars;
• develop a craft research library and collection of craft resources and craft objects open to the public;
• develop craft exhibition and touring opportunities throughout New Zealand and internationally;
• develop a regular programme of craft events in New Zealand; 
• encourage community craft projects; 
• develop a national network and contact point of reference for craftmakers and those interested in craft.

The following diagram outlines how we intend to work across the craft sector and wider economy, in order to deliver benefits to the wider New Zealand public.
Other News
It has been a very busy time of late for Craft Aotearoa with presentations in Wellington at Handmade 2012 and in Auckland at Objectspace's 7UP Talkfest. We have also been busy meeting with Statistics New Zealand, various craft practitioners, Form Gallery, The Big Idea and craft organisations, and we have launched New Zealand's first major craft research project.

2012 New Zealand Craft Survey
Over 170 people have so far shared their views on New Zealand craft. Don't miss this rare opportunity to contribute your thoughts - we are seeking a broad range of views from both the wider public and those engaged in craft practice including students, teachers, practitioners, curators, researchers, industry groups, galleries, craft organisations and more. To share your views just fill in our online survey questionnaire:
www.surveymonkey.com/s/CraftAotearoa2012   

It is vital that we receive as many responses as possible so please email the survey link to your friends and colleagues. The consultation ends on 19 August, and we will then begin the process of analysing the results and working with others in the craft sector to contextualise these results in a report that will be published for the benefit of the wider public at a later date. The diagram above outlines how our our project delivery will be led by the responses received in the 2012 New Zealand Craft Survey.

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Contemporary jewellery by Jeremy Leeming.

Just over a month ago, we launched our Craft Aotearoa Facebook page and it has quickly become a central place to network with others, to access national and international craft news, upcoming workshop listings, events, links, stories, and photos.

Over 300 individuals and organisations have 'liked' our page. This is the best way to receive our posts. Even if you are not on facebook you can still have a look by copying this link: www.facebook.com/CraftAotearoa