Every year, as part of the Norfolk Makers' Festival, we work with Norfolk County Council's Business & Intellectual Property Centre, to present From Craft to Career.
Together we ask a panel of artists and creative traders to take part in an open discussion about how to build successful enterprises out of the crafts they love.
Our panellists provide information on how they set up their businesses and what they have learned along the way. What successes have they had and what did they wish they’d known when they first started.
The evening talk is held in The Forum's Auditorium, and online, and is compered by Jayne Evans, the Producer of Norfolk Makers Festival. Guests in the audience are encouraged to ask questions.
This event is free, but booking is required. We are delighted to welcome the following people to our 2024 panel.
Rob Livingstone - Norwich University of the Arts
Rob is Entrepreneurship Advisor at the Norwich University of the Arts. Rob is passionate about supporting students to realise their creative ventures and see themselves not only as artists, but as entrepreneurs. He would love to hear from you if you have any questions on how best to start an independent business of your own.
Jen Simonic + Masey Kaplan - Loose Ends Project
Jen and Masey are joining us via Zoom from the US where they run Loose Ends, an international organisation which matches craft projects that have been left unfinished due to death or illness, with volunteer finishers around the world, including here in Norfolk.
Ella Goodwin - Miss Ella
The Miss Ella has a distinctive fairy-tale brand and artist and designer, Ella Goodwin, works from her studio in Norwich where she creates and sells homeware, books, stationary, accessories and collectors dolls.
Ellen Siegert - Crazy Hippo Crochet
Ellen runs Crazy Hippo Crochet, a Norfolk brand which has a global following and customer list. Ellen designs and crafts crochet ‘amigurumi’ dolls in varying sizes and has recently launched Crazy Hippo merchandise.
Maria Thornberg - ReDo Norfolk
Maria is the founder of ReDo Norfolk, a CIC which has a core mission to reduce the amount of textiles and clothing going to landfill. It works with artists, charities and businesses to develop projects and events that promote sustainable approaches.
