Community crafts - connect with others to get creative!
This article has been so popular we have re-visited crafts for 2021 >>here
We have delved into the rich content of SAcommunity to find some great suggestions for people who want to learn a craft or get together with others who enjoy creating things. This is some of what we've found:
Brown Owls – there are 2 groups in Adelaide that do knitting, crochet, quilting, embroidery, making new things from old materials. They have a lot of fun.
Knit for Charities – making warm clothing, blankets and toys for needy people.
Save the Children’s Born to Knit project – knit squares for blankets to help save the lives of babies and children in developing countries.
Yarn Bombing – guerrilla knitting where public places and street furniture are covered in knitted items just for fun.
Craft with an environmental message - the Barrier Reef crochet project.
Here are some organisations and groups that promote and teach crafts:
- Basket making – Basketry SA
- Community shed programs – offer creative activities for participants
- Lace making – Australian Lace Guild
- Pottery – Studio Potters SA Inc.
- Quilting – Quilters Guild of SA
- Spinning & weaving – Handspinners & Weavers Guild of SA
- Toy repairs – Clarence Park Community Centre
- Woodcrafts – Woodgroup SA
There are plenty of opportunities to learn craft skills and attend classes. Most community centres offer a variety of arts and crafts sessions - check Community Centres SA to find a centre in your area. There are over 90 around South Australia.
TAFE SA offers short courses and certificate courses so you can learn for pleasure or to gain a qualification.
University of the Third Age (U3A) has branches around the metropolitan area and in the country, some offering arts and crafts courses.
WEA Adult Learning - try basketry, leadlight, picture framing, jewellery making, mosaic, pottery, bookbinding
Have you heard of Etsy? It's an online community for selling and buying handmade items and a great place to get ideas and inspiration.
For those who are interested in practicing professionally, contact Craftsouth: Centre for Contemporary Craft & Design, the peak industry organisation in South Australia for craft, design and visual art practitioners.
Want to find more? Check out Crafts on SAcommunity.
If your arts & crafts organisation or activity are not listed there, let us know so we can help you spread the word.
