Crafts Council appoint Sumitra Upham to bring craft to new audiences

The head of public programmes is a new role at the Crafts Council and will be responsible for integrated physical and digital events that puts our audience first. Over the last few years, and accelerated as a result of the pandemic and Black Lives Matter, the Crafts Council wants to collaborate and co-produce a programme of events with partners to bring new voices and perspectives to our long-held mission to celebrate and promote craft and makers.

With a new Crafts Council Gallery in Islington, London, and as venues start to open following lockdown, Sumitra arrives at a moment of change for the organisation. As well as engaging our existing audiences we want to work meaningfully with local communities and under-represented and mis-represented communities.

"Craft has shown its power over the pandemic – it has provided comfort, connection and a source of wellbeing for millions. We are thrilled to have Sumitra start in a role that will respond to the public’s growing appetite for craft – fuelled by them making themselves and seeing brilliant ambassadors for craft such as the Olympic diver and (very skilled) knitter and crocheter Tom Daley. This role will connect and collaborate to create inspiring exhibitions and events that resonate with all our existing and emerging audiences across the UK." Rosy Greenlees, executive director, Crafts Council

Formerly senior curator of public programmes at the Design Museum, Sumitra was responsible for leading an interdisciplinary programme of events, residencies and temporary projects. In 2019 she was appointed curator of programmes for the 5th Istanbul Design Biennial and prior to that was associate curator at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London. She holds an MA in Curating Contemporary Design from Kingston University in partnership with the Design Museum, London, and is on the board of trustees at Cubitt, the artist-run gallery and cooperative.

"I am thrilled to be joining the Crafts Council as head of public programmes. I have long admired the organisation’s commitment to promoting making and its transformative impact in our societies. The Crafts Council Gallery is a much needed platform for demonstrating the power of craft to support, entertain and empower. I look forward to collaborating with colleagues, makers and local communities to build a critical programme, onsite and further afield, that prioritises social values and holds space for urgent cultural narratives that aren't always the dominant ones. " Sumitra Upham, head of public programmes, Crafts Council