Crafting Business 2020

Crafting Business is a program that has been specially developed for makers who want to learn more about entrepreneurship and who could use some fresh input and practical tools.

During the first edition we helped fourteen makers through eight dynamic, interactive and practical workshops with the guidance of various experts:  Marion Beltman, Stefan van den Brakel (Qredits), Jan Schoon, Arne Leliveld (Matter of Material), Eva Roolker ( Stimuleringsfonds), Joost Vrieler (Stichting Stokroos), Milou Voorwinden, Irene Vermeulen (Crafts Curator) and Simone Post.

The first edition of the Crafting Business program was a great success. In this article we would like to introduce the participants to you.

Imke van Boekhold

Studio Imke van Boekhold makes textile and color designs and works both autonomously and commissioned. She describes her work as poetic and conceptual, with her delicate handwriting as the connecting factor. ‘Because of the fleeting nature of life, it is a challenge to slow down and to experience the beauty of everyday life with attention,’ says Imke. With her work she wants to challenge people to become aware of the environment in which they move naturally. This attention, together with a great love for working with color and material, forms the foundation of her work. She works thoughtfully, inquisitively and intuitively and leaves room in the design process for chance and surprises by letting go of control for a while.

Crafting Business

‘The meetings via Crafting Business have ensured that I have sharpened my strength as a designer. The biggest change in myself is that I now look at my entrepreneurship in a more businesslike way.’

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Fenna van der Klei

Fenna reinterprets techniques that create new appearances. A good example of this is research into new types of weaves. During the design process, she is guided by the material, which is the first impetus for the design of a new product or installation. She is fascinated by the connection between people and product, which she sees changing through the Internet and online shops and in which she sees a challenge: ‘It is no longer about selling a product. It’s about the experience and telling stories, where the senses are stimulated and the visitor is charmed.’

Crafting Business

‘The program has provided me with very nice handles with which I can professionalize and expand my work practice. I now have a much clearer vision of what my work focuses on and a very solid foundation on which to build further.’

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Hanneke de Leeuw

As a designer, Hanneke is fascinated by change and wants to contribute to the activist role that design has by sketching visionary images of the future. For example, she is investigating how she can use waste in a new way, as a raw material for new products. She is also realizing a social project about corona and developing a series of plates and cutlery related to climate change and food. ‘By looking differently, researching and experimenting with surprising angles, I want to shed new light on those changes. I give them a positive twist, with a playfulness that instills in people the idea that by doing yourself you influence the world around you. A turn in which imagination, an open mind, but also confusion and experimentation are central.’

Crafting Business

‘Crafting business has prompted and taught me to look more businesslike at my crafting.’

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Theo Rooden

As a weaver, Theo builds his own universe based on patterns, algorithms and simple rules. Those rules in combination with the limitations and possibilities of the loom set him on a track, his handwriting does the rest. The weaves are slowly growing under his hands, each step in the process is carefully carried out. ‘Everyday life tempts us to be busy. By doing less and slowing down you can experience more. This creates dedication, craftsmanship and expertise. I am convinced that these are ingredients for a valuable society. My wall textiles and rugs are like mirrors, to remind you what really matters.’

Crafting Business

‘The Crafting Business program provided by Crafts Council Nederland was a fantastic opportunity for me to learn to be a decisive creative entrepreneur. Other creators have already put so many smart ideas into practice that I can build on. Both the renowned professionals and the fellow students were a source of knowledge and inspiration. In addition, there was coaching by Marion Beltman, always safe and confident, but also questioning and critical. That helps me to align the quality of my company with the quality of my textiles.’

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Brenda van Roekel

Since 2014, Brenda van Roekel has been designing porcelain interior objects such as lampshades, tableware and home accessories for her label Studio Amber Isabel. Her studio is located in the middle of the woods of Alphen and because of this direct contact, nature is a recurring source of inspiration. Organic shapes are the main starting point in her work, which is expressed in a minimalist style with refined details and finish. With her porcelain products, Studio Amber Isabel brings peace to the chaos of everyday life. They easily merge into an interior that is constantly in motion.

Crafting Business

‘Crafting Business made me reflect on my work for my label Studio Amber Isabel. It was nice to be in a group with other creators. I discovered that there are many similarities: not only about getting the best out of your practice, but also the stumbling blocks we encounter. It was very good to take a close look at my own company in a number of fixed days and to see where the areas for improvement lie. Often many open doors, but at the same time a confrontation of action points. Speakers from different angles entered into a dialogue with us as makers and provided information from their own expertise, which was very interesting. The Crafting Business program gave in some ways what I missed in art school 10 years ago.’

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Merel van Glabbeek

Merel’s mission is to give clothing and fabrics a second life. She wants to make people aware that their clothes can be used longer, in order to contribute to reducing environmental impact. ‘I like to make new clothing from old clothing and residual materials that shines.’ The Merel van Glabbeek label offers exclusive, unique and handmade pieces. The collections consist of residual materials and ecological fabrics. The fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries in the world due to, among other things, large amounts of waste that it produces. What we need is slow fashion, fashion with a thoughtful design and made with attention’.

Crafting Business

‘It was great to learn all facets of the business side of the creative profession. There was a lot of knowledge available, I learned a lot from the teachers, experts in the field. The group was also extremely valuable, it was very nice to connect with people who are in the same position’.

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Marieke van Heesbeen

With porcelain, Marieke creates everyday objects that bring flair, power and reappraisal of forms. Research is the basis of her work, an interplay between technique, ritual, play, aesthetics, form and color. These investigations go on indefinitely because form and color never run out for her and her curiosity is never fully developed. The origin of her way of working lies during her residency in Jingdezhen, China. This city is known as the origin of ceramics. Wandering through the city, she ended up in factories and shops that were full of unbaked products. The abundance of semi-finished products had no function yet, which made her look at form differently. She now sees every shop as a database of form, which she incorporates into her objects.

Crafting Business

‘The valuable thing about Crafting Business for me is the personal trajectory that I have gone through. It has opened many new doors on how I can shape my business. In two months, I was able to investigate what is possible and what tools I need for this. This has ensured that I have a better overview and that I can work in a more focused way. In short, with focus: what do I want to achieve and what do I need for that. And the nice thing was that I was surprised by the possibilities and by all the new insights I got.’

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Annelieke van Halen

From a lifelong love for shoes, Annelieke makes timeless, distinctive shoes. Handmade designs in small editions for women who make conscious choices in their career and who have their own view of the world. Annelieke makes shoes for them that they can stand on, both literally and figuratively. The creations are made of quality leather and biodegradable materials from Italy. Annelieke has her studio in Delft and uses the workshop of master shoemaker René van den Berg in Hoofddorp.

Crafting Business

‘I started my company as a shoe designer and maker a year ago. Through my participation in Crafting Business, I have come to see myself more as an entrepreneur. I have been able to sharpen my vision and mission, so that I now have a clear picture of the customers I want to reach. Moreover, it was very valuable for me to exchange ideas with other makers and designers.’

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Veronica Pock

As a weaver, Veronica Pock takes abstract images as a source of inspiration. She uses different materials, colours, textures and patterns in her work. With a personal handwriting she captures a place, atmosphere or feeling in unique scarves, pillows or art.

Crafting Business

‘With a strong programme of speakers and comprehensively covering relevant subject matter, Crafting Business has armed me with the knowledge, confidence and sense of worth in my skills to move forward positively in my creative practice.’

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Anita Michaluszko

Anita Michaluszko is a textile designer and is fascinated by weaving constructions. Fibers are twisted into yarn and threads are crossed to form a surface. ‘Weaving keeps everything together and makes it flexible. This all seems obvious, but it is actually a miracle.’ With her work she likes to evoke amazement, and also to meet the need to experience a material with the senses.

Crafting Business

‘The Crafting Business program was a very special experience. In a workshop-like and structured way we worked on different facets of creative entrepreneurship. Ultimately, I found my own limiting beliefs to be the most challenging. As a creative maker you prefer to focus only on your own work, while entrepreneurship requires communication and presentation. Crafting Business has taught me to see all these aspects as a whole.’

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Alf Kurstjens

De Olde Kruyk, the company now owned by Alf Kurstjens, has been making ceramics for over 80 years. In the past with the turntable and nowadays also with the very latest techniques. He works with self-designed 3D ceramic printers and laser cutters. By means of recycling and repurposing, it burdens the earth as little as possible. De Olde Kruyk specializes in problem solutions and if that fails, connections are made with other artists and the right technicians. ‘Creating some dust when making our ceramics, doesn’t mean the ceramics we make are dusty.’

Crafting Business

‘I have had an independent professional practice for some time now. Everything is as usual. During my participation in Crafting Business, I learned that there is always room for innovation to grow your practice into the future.’

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Crafting Business

Crafting Business is part of the larger partnership program Crafting Europe; This project brings together nine organizations from eight European countries that are committed to ensuring the survival and development of the crafts for future generations.

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