About Crux Craft Fair
From our very first craft fair in 1996 up to today, we’ve always kept true to our original aim. To create an intimate, cosy and welcoming space for people to enjoy high-quality crafts by local south-west designer-makers
Our Values
Crux has always been a craft fair organised and run by practising craftspeople.
Before the days of Etsy and social media, we created a space to support local designer-makers who didn’t have a commercial outlet or access to the public market. We wanted to create an event that simultaneously celebrated the best southwest crafts while sharing them with visitors who appreciated and enjoyed the artistry behind the product. We’ve come a long way from the cruck frame building that gave us our name, but the original ethos and space we set out to create hasn’t changed.
The first Crux Craft Fairs were held in renovated barns. These were wonderful spaces that created this uniquely homely and intimate atmosphere. We have now been at the brilliant Rattery Village Hall since 2005 and we, every year, we create that cosy, warm and welcoming environment for visitors.
Crux Craft Fair 2019. Photo credit: Viola De Photography
Supporting the local maker community
Crux is first and foremost about supporting the southwest maker community. This is, ultimately, why we have decided to keep a small and intimate event, even when the opportunity has arisen to make it something bigger.
Our set up means we can keep stall fees low so that new and emerging craftspeople feel able to apply. We can also offer free parking and entry, so you’ll often find people returning multiple times across the three days to browse and buy.
And best of all, we can bring together the local designer-maker community, which is always an inspiring and rewarding experience.
Artisan craftspeople are often working alone in their workshops so relish the opportunity to meet and connect with other makers. We’ve heard about
many friendships and collaborations over the years that have only happened because two makers met at Crux. Stallholders often talk of missing their stall neighbours after Crux is over. This is why we work very hard to create a welcoming space, not just for visitors but for makers too.
Our Wonderful Visitors
We get a huge range of people from the craft curious to the niche enthusiast.
However, the core of our visitors are what we would call ‘craft connoisseurs’. People that are serious about buying handmade items from highly skilled artisans. They know the value of items made by hand and respect the skill and craft that has gone into every piece. They also want to chat with the exhibitors, find out the story behind the products and the inspirations behind the designs. Makers at Crux definitely can’t be shy!
For many of our visitors, Crux is a regular event in their annual diary. A place to meet friends and enjoy a leisurely browse, chatting with exhibitors about the intricacies of their craft. Stopping for lunch at our onsite cafe and then working their way back around the stalls to pick up those pieces they just couldn’t stop thinking about. The Crux Cafe has become a well-known and enjoyed element of the event.
Flyers from previous Crux Craft Fairs in 2001, 2010 and 2017
Thank you for your support
To finish on a personal note, we would like to thank you for visiting Crux Craft Fair, in the past or in the future.
Crux is organised and run completely voluntarily as a passion project. The five current organisers get a free stall at the fair in return for their efforts throughout the year. No profit is made - we more-or-less break even every year. It’s a labour of love for the designer-maker community.
We’re looking to forward to the next fair in November and hope to see you there!