About us

How it Began

Craft Festival was founded in 2004 and is a non-profit making organisation and we celebrate our 20th Anniversary in 2024. The event has grown from around 2,000 visitors to over 10,000 since it started and has become one of the most prestigious and much loved craft events in the Europe. Craft Festival was made possible with the award of LEADER+ funding from the European Union. We have accessed various funds over the years but we are now self-sustaining with additional support provided by working in partnership with a variety of organisations and businesses. 

Craft Festival came about when a group of craft businesses joined forces and formed a non-profit making company with the aim to bring a large craft fair to Bovey Tracey. The aim of the original Fair was to showcase the very best in British craft and the create a new, sustainable and strong market place for contemporary craft but also to bring greater prosperity to the town of Bovey Tracey. The town has a long history of making and at one point up to 15 commercial potteries were running in the area. The House of Marbles, one of the founding companies is located at the former site of the Bovey Pottery which closed its doors in the mid 80's. The other founding partner was The Devon Guild of Craftsmen, a registered educational charity based in Bovey Tracey.

Since 2004, Craft Festival has been led by Cardigan born and bred, Sarah James and her dedicated team. Craft Festival, Cardiff (formerly Made by Hand, Cardiff) was originally founded at Tredegar House in 2010 and was hosted at Cardiff City Hall until 2019.

Award Winning Festivals

In 2015, 2016 and 2018 Craft Festival, Bovey Tracey was awarded a Gold medal as Visit Devon's Festival of the Year and our first GOLD for Festival of the Year at the South West Excellence Awards in 2018. We were also delighted to win overall Winner of Winners for the South West 2018. Made by Hand Cardiff was shortlisted for Event of the Year.

Our Director Sarah James was awarded an MBE for Services to Craft in the King's Birthday Honours List 2023.

Find a Maker & The Capital of Craft

During Lockdown, we developed Digital Craft Festival which, in turn, became Find a Maker. Find a Maker is a membership organisation of 400 curated makers that connects makers to eachother and to our loyal audience of craft lovers. Find out more HERE.

We also founded the podcast The Capital of Craft, a series of conversations with Sarah James and amazing makers. You can listen Here.