About us

APPLICATIONS FOR 2024 OPEN 1-28 FEBRUARY

Craft says…excuse me, listen up, I’m different. Be original, be curious, make a statement. Why not own something that nobody else does?

The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair (GNCCF) is a nationally renowned event and the premier fair in the North. Now in its 17th year, the GNCCF is an exclusive opportunity to buy direct from over 150 of the UK's leading designer-makers and craft artists. All exhibitors are hand-picked by an independent panel of craft experts, to give you the best in covetable design and craftsmanship.

Our fairs feature handmade accessories for you and your home including jewellery, textile accessories, print, furniture, lighting, ceramics, glass, wood, metal and more. As well as browsing for unique pieces, you can meet and chat to the makers, watch them demonstrate and even try your hand at a craft yourself. Many of our exhibiting makers also work to commission, should you be looking for something special or bespoke.

Founded by a team with an obsessive love of craft and a desire to produce one of the best fairs in the country, it’s no coincidence that the GNCCF has become the must-attend event for exhibitors and buyers alike, attracting people from across the North and further afield.

Since the first fair was offically opened by internationally acclaimed designer Thomas Heatherwick in 2008, our craft events have showcased  over 3500 artists, attracted over 90000 visitors and sold over £3.5m of craft.

GNCCFonline is our virtual spin-off of GNCCF.  Taking place the first weekend of December, it's the perfect place to buy Christmas gifts from over 50 makers via their pop-up shops on our website, from the comfort of your home.

GNCCF and GNCCFonline are both organised by Great Northern Events NW Ltd, a not for profit organisation whose aims are to champion designer-makers and to create high quality curated selling events for exquisite craft. We are founding members of Craft UK and the NW Craft Network.

Our Outreach Work

We are passionate about the therapeutic benefits of making and making craft more accessible to people from disadvantaged backgrounds. 

We have a long-standing partnership with The Oasis Centre, a community centre in Gorton, East Manchester, where we provide free craft workshops for their service-users, facilitating the learning of new skills and bringing a wealth of mental health benefits. As well as making pieces to be proud of, the community have created a permanent artwork for the outside of their building, and 2022 saw us work with 143 participants in a "deep-dive" week of tile-making to make a large scale community mosaic to adorn the Oasis interior. 

We also partner Progress Schools, delivering workshops and teaching craft skills to 12-16 yr olds struggling with mainstream education.

Please support this valuable work and donate by clicking on the image below. Thank-you.