Join the call to save craft and design courses
FOLLOWING the shock announcement that Edinburgh College of Art will be closing the remainder of its undergraduate degrees in craft disciplines, Craft Scotland have released an open letter calling for their reinstatement.
Craft organisations and leaders across the sector have co-signed the letter which you can read in full on our website: https://buff.ly/3jIYlOX
Jewellery and Silversmithing, Textiles and Performance Costume are closing to new admissions in 2027 and will be taught out over the next four years.
“Each year we see work of the highest quality emerge from the ECA degree courses… we know that many of these graduates progress to very successful careers in craft, and make a valuable contribution to the wider cultural sector in Scotland and internationally.
“Collectively, these graduate cohorts are ranked amongst the best in the UK. Makers working in jewellery and textiles have directly helped to establish the reputation of Scottish craft internationally and contribute to cutting edge research in materiality and design.
“International visitors, collectors, curators and academics tell us that Scotland punches above its weight in terms of its contemporary craft culture. This shortsighted decision will have a disproportionate impact on the craft sector as well as significant impact on Scotland’s future creative success.”
– Craft Scotland Director, Irene Kernan
Co-signed by: Applied Arts Scotland, Fife Contemporary, Design Nation, Visual Arts Scotland, Scottish Textiles Showcase, Heritage Crafts, TRACS
With support from: Crafts Council, Goldsmiths’ (Company, Centre, Foundation), QEST, European Craft Alliance, Art Jewellery Forum and more.
Due to the strength of public response to this open letter, we have launched a petition to evidence the support for these highly successful craft and design courses.
We plan to share this petition with Scottish Government and politicians, and university decision makers to help fuel a reversal of this descision.
>>> SIGN AND SHARE THE PETITION to help save these vital strands of Scotland’s craft and design education ecosystem.
Image 1: Honor Dodd, ECA Jewellery and Silversmithing graduate / Photography by the artist
THE LETTER IN FULL:
Craft Scotland and the other craft support organisations signing this statement are shocked to hear about the proposed closure of the undergraduate Jewellery and Silversmithing, Textiles and Performance Costume courses at Edinburgh College of Art. This will devastate educational opportunities for future generations of professional makers and designers.
We call on University of Edinburgh Principal, Sir Peter Mathieson, Edinburgh College of Art Principal, Professor Juan Cruz, and Vice-Principal, Professor Sarah Prescott, to reverse these planned closures immediately.
Each year we see work of the highest quality emerge from the ECA degree courses. In our role we monitor the success of makers and we know that many of these graduates progress to very successful careers in craft, and make a valuable contribution to the wider cultural sector in Scotland and internationally.
Collectively, these graduate cohorts are ranked amongst the best in the UK. Makers working in jewellery and textiles have directly helped to establish the reputation of Scottish craft internationally and contribute to cutting edge research in materiality and design.
Edinburgh College of Art Jewellery and Silversmithing alumni have had their masterpieces acquired by some of the world’s most important museum collections and by private collectors.
Alumni from ECA’s Performance Costume course land prestigious roles working across stage and screen, as well as contributing to Scotland’s fashion and textile industries.
Makers working in textiles have built successful careers in industry and design as well as through establishing individual craft businesses. Textiles at ECA ranks consistently high in the Guardian University Guide, maintaining a position within the Top 6 for Textiles for the last 9 years. Number 2 in the UK and Number 1 in Scotland in 2026.
These courses are a unique and irreplaceable part of Edinburgh’s cultural history. A decision to close these courses will have consequences for Scottish culture that are almost impossible to mitigate and would be an enormous loss for the UK’s cultural landscape.
The reputation of craft and making by hand is on the rise. In an increasingly digital world, the value of craft is being recognised even more widely for its educational benefits, cultural impact and employment opportunities.
International visitors, collectors, curators and academics tell us that Scotland punches above its weight in terms of its contemporary craft culture. This shortsighted decision will have a disproportionate impact on the craft sector as well as significant impact on Scotland’s future creative success.
Craft Scotland Director, Irene Kernan
>>> SIGN AND SHARE THE PETITION to help save these vital strands of Scotland’s craft and design education ecosystem.
