Chair: - Jean Smye - 07731 856361 e-mail - jsmyeat02.co.uk
Treasurer: - Tony Giles - 01245 467581
Secretary: - Vera Staff - 01376 322047
Membership Enquiries: - Margaret Giles - 01245 467581
Welcome to ‘The Guild of Essex Craftsman’s’ web site.
The Guild was formed in 1984, celebrating 25 years in 2009, and its main aim is to promote, encourage and support Guild members. In doing this we aim to stimulate a wider and more informed appreciation of genuine hand made crafts in Essex, U.K.
Guild Membership is granted only to individuals who meet the Guild’s criteria and whose handcraft work is of a high enough standard to have passed the Guild’s annual selection process. So what is the Guild’s criterion? Applicants are to be genuine craft workers, who live in the county of Essex, U.K. Membership is NOT available to those who live abroad, hold a craft franchise, or who import or sell craft goods made by others. There are THREE forms of Guild membership, Full Member, Guild Friend and Associate Member. Information about all of these will be found on the Join us page.
The Guild publishes an Annual Directory, which describes members’ work and advises how to get in touch with them. Along side this it advises the different services members offer, i.e. will speak to groups, do repairs, accepts commissions for special items etc. Event organisers will also see which members are happy to exhibit. Many members will also be pleased to demonstrate their craft at events, which adds interest for show visitors.
To obtain a copy of the Directory please send an A5 or larger stamped addressed envelope to: Ray Staff, 43 Chaucer Crescent, Braintree, Essex. CM7 1AQ or alternatively you can pick up a free copy when visting any of the Guild Events.
The Guild is a Non-profit making organisation. The Guild committee, with the help of members, arrange events, in accordance with our aims, for the public to meet and purchase directly from members.
The Guild supports others in Essex too. Since 2000, the Guild has donated surplus funds from Guild events to different charities and Groups in Essex, to help support others in the community. In recent years our Main Charity has been the Essex Air Ambulance, for whom we have raised over £13,000 so far. See the Guild’s Charity Work page for details of this and of the others we have helped.
All press enquiries should be directed to the Guild Press Officer, Gill Carpenter.
Phone = 01621 859060
E-mail = gillian.marineratbtinternet.com
Please change at to @ when sending your e-mail. This is a recognised security measure.
For more on the Guild’s activities, or details of how to join us, please select from the menu.