William Morris was a frequent visitor to Manchester, and the only Morris & Co shop outside London was located in the city. His now famous dictum: Do not have anything in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful, was first heard in Manchester, as was his first explicitly socialist lecture Art, Wealth and Riches. Morris’s fellow art worker Walter Crane was Head of Design at the Manchester Municipal School of Art from 1893-1896.

In this talk Barry will also share recent research on lesser known Manchester-based Arts and Crafts architects, artists and artisans who, in 1896, formed the Northern Art Workers’ Guild in the city. In a new and original book the Guild’s members are identified, with numerous illustrations of their work, together with the exhibitions that brought them to public notice. It tells the story of a northern craft revival that was neither rural nor London-focused, but an essential component of the Arts and Crafts movement located in the heart of industrial England. The Guild was unusual for its time in that women were active and equal members, holding office, giving talks and showing their work in the Guild’s public exhibitions.

Whilst the Guild was relatively short-lived (1896-1912) its members and ideals played a key part in later initiatives. In 1917, the highly active Manchester branch of the Design and Industries Association was established, promoting the best in everyday machine-made products. And in 1920 the Red Rose Guild of Artworkers held the first of its annual craft exhibitions, thus continuing the promotion of hand-made objects.

Barry Clark is an experienced speaker and a retired Manchester Metropolitan University lecturer with a life-long interest in the Arts and Crafts movement. He is co-author, with Stephanie Boydell and Richard Fletcher, of the recently publishedThe Northern Art Workers’ Guild and the Arts and Crafts movement in Manchester. Barry is also a craft bookbinder, and chair of the Society of Bookbinders’ North West and North Wales region.

Barry’s beautifully illustrated talk will bring all this to life as he reveals the untold story of Manchester’s extensive involvement in the Arts and Crafts movement.

Organised by

This talk is organised by the Friends of the Gordon Russell Design Museum, and profits will help to support the continuing work of the Museum.

Further details can be found on our website www.gordonrusselldesignmuseum.org

Further talks and events can be found here www.gordonrusselldesignmuseum.org/online-events/