About us

Now in its 6th Year the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair at Spinningfields is recognised as one of the leading retail events for contemporary craft in the UK, attracting over 6000 visitors with collective exhibitor sales of over £200K.  

 

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The GNCCF showcases cutting edge contemporary craft to buy from over 150 selected designer-makers in ceramics, glass, jewellery, interior and fashion textiles, wood, paper, silver, metal, product design, print-making and more. Visitors can spend the day in a relaxed yet stimulating atmosphere, chat to the makers about their work and buy or commission pieces directly from them.

Jill shaddock with ladiesUpender with modelsCu Siale Shot PRESSWoman Looking At John Moore Stand - PRESS SHOT

The GNCCF is organised by Ann-Marie Franey and Angela Mann and a team of event volunteers, managed by Leanne Richards. 

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The idea for the GNCCF was born out of a desire to champion craft in the North, to promote designer-makers and give them a much needed platform in the region to sell their work and to engage a new audience for contemporary craft in the North. In 2007, Great Northern Events NW Ltd, the not-for-profit company was formed and is guided by its Board of Directors.

The inaugural fair took place in 2008 at the Manchester Grammar School and was officially opened by eminent designer Thomas Heatherwick. The GNCCF then made the move to the city centre and Spinningfields,  Manchester's prestigious commercial and retail quarter.

2013 sees the show return to a hard sided pavilion within the Spinningfields Estate. This public space is surrounded by street cafes, trendy bars and the commercial offices of some of the UK's leading financial and legal companies. It's close to 'The Avenue', Manchester's new luxury shopping destination and the city's main thoroughfare Deansgate.

The GNCCF has become a regular fixture in Manchester's cultural calendar and in 2011 it won Small Tourism Event of the Year at Manchester's Tourism Awards. It is supported by Arts Council England through the National Lottery Grant for the Arts.

 

Small Event Of The Year Winners

 

 Some crafty statistics about the GNCCF!

  •  It showcases over 150 of the UK's leading designer-makers (and some international ones too), all selected by a prestigious panel of craft experts

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  • It attracts over 6000 visitors, 45% from outside of Gtr Manchester
  • >£200k of sales generated as a result of the 2012 fair
  • 45% of exhibitors took commissions
  • 30% of exhibitors took trade orders

Colour General Shot 2011 For Press

  • 94% of visitors rated their experience as very good or excellent
  • 9% of visitors stayed overnight, contributing over £350K to the local economy

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  • The GNCCF awards 10 Northern graduates complimentary stands in the specially curated Great Northern Graduate Showcase
  • The GNCCF supports Great Northern Graduates One Year On, giving them heavily discounted space in the year following graduation
  • The GNCCF supports new and emerging makers, giving discounted space to all makers in business for less than 3 years

Customers admiring table of Jill shadwick

  • The GNCCF has generated £450K of PR value  since its launch. It has had editorial  in the Sunday Times, The Guardian Weekend, Elle Decoration,Living Etc, House & Garden, Craft, Art Quarterly, Manchester Evening News, Yorkshire Post, Cheshire Life and Woman's Hour
  • Our 2012 PR campaign reached over 3m readers and 3.5m Twitter & Facebook users
  • Over £2000 raised for charities including Fine Cell Work, Wood Steet Mission and Cystic Fibrosis Trust.