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Lookup NU author(s): Lauren Baker
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
There is strong evidence to suggest that craft practitioners find it difficult to seize their potential as micro businesses and sole traders (Nielsen et al., 2018). Despite much work at the intersection between craft and entrepreneurial practice, research shows a gap exists between the needs of craft businesses and the support provided by national organisations (Fillis, 2002; Bouette and Magee, 2014). As a result of these discrepancies, traditionally entrepreneurial craft businesses are more likely to receive organisational advice and financial support. Meanwhile, those craft businesses perceived to be making a less obvious contribution to sector development are denied. Through advocacy for limited models of craft business, many ‘unconventional’ (Guercini and Cova, 2018, p. 36) models have been marginalised, or left underexplored. This has significant implications for the diversity (Eikhof, 2017) and longevity (Luckman, 2018) of the sector. However, craft’s tendency for activism holds potential for ‘political, economic and social transformation’ (Jakob, 2013, p. 131) with many calling for the sector to be utilised as a space for political debate and action (Smith, 2016). Drawing upon the findings from an exploratory study, this paper seeks to advance the debate about how the craft sector in Scotland can harness more unconventional entrepreneurial models, whilst reimagining their future use. A survey was conducted amongst 25 craft businesses from across Scotland. A questionnaire was designed to capture how craft practitioners interact with organisational support and instrumentalise collaborative exchanges to overcome challenges. The qualitative data was thematically analysed and revealed three deeply connected themes addressing practitioners’ multiplicity of identity, their processes of identity development, and experience of collaborative tensions. The authors discuss alternative ‘craft rich’ forms of economy and models of entrepreneurship before concluding with recommendations for national support organisations to provide developmental support to build, promote, and sustain the working lives of craft businesses.
Author(s): Baker L
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Makings
Year: 2021
Volume: 2
Issue: 1
Pages: 1-16
Online publication date: 05/08/2021
Acceptance date: 05/08/2021
Date deposited: 19/11/2021
ISSN (electronic): 2752-3861
Publisher: Birmingham Centre for Media and Cultural Research
URL: https://makingsjournal.com/unconventional-craft-identities-acknowledging-alternative-approaches-to-enterprise-in-scottish-craft/
