Nation Day gifts by UK maker
Michelle McKinney metalwork
Gifts made by metalworker Michelle McKinney’s will be presented to official UK and China delegates on the 8 September. The legacy gift for Shanghai from the UK and 80 smaller gifts will be presented on UK Expo National Day in the UK Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo.
The Crafts Council launched a competition in November 2009 with the British Council and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. There were 37 submissions and Michelle McKinney was selected from a shortlist of six high-quality proposals.
Michelle McKinney’s gifts take inspiration from the Gingko tree and include a design of hand-cut and folded delicate golden mesh Gingko leaves. The Gingko symbolizes peace, hope and longevity in China. Despite its ancient provenance it still has a presence and relevance in modern China and so symbolizes a link between ancient and modern China and reflects the ‘Better City, Better Life’ theme of the 2010 Expo.
Michelle McKinney’s proposal won the attention of the judges due to its consideration of cultural relevance, in terms of aesthetic, colour and choice of image. Carma Elliot OBE, the British Consul-General in Shanghai and Deputy Commissioner-General of the UK Pavilion, said the work is “stunning and original” and is delighted with the choice. Rosy Greenlees, Executive Director of the Crafts Council said “Michelle’s elegant design perfectly encapsulates the brief set for this commission and will result in culturally sensitive and beautiful gifts. We hope this commission heralds the start of more makers being used as creative ambassadors for the UK.”
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For press images and further information please contact Jill Read, Press Officer, Crafts Council, Tel: 020 7806 2549 or Email: media@craftscouncil.org.uk
Notes to Editors
• The selectors on the panel were Elizabeth Cameron (Market Development Manager, Crafts Council), Leigh Gibson (Director for Content and Programme for the Shanghai World Expo, British Council), Jo Prosser (Managing Director for V&A Enterprises Ltd,
V& A) and Carla Sorrell (Design Advisor, Architecture, Design and Fashion Dept, British Council).
• The shortlist for the competition was Frances Geesin, Eleanor Long, Natascha Madeiski, Michelle McKinney, David Rhys Jones and Jasmin Rowlandson.
• The Crafts Council’s goal is to make the UK the best place to make, see, collect and learn about contemporary craft.
12% of the UK population visited a craft exhibition in 200910, and 18% participated in craft activity in the same year (DCMS/ACE Taking Part data update August 2010).
We believe that craft plays a dynamic and vigorous role in the UK’s social, economic and cultural life.
We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to make, see, collect and learn about craft.
We believe that the strength of craft lies in its use of traditional and contemporary techniques, ideas and materials to make extraordinary new work.
We believe that the future of craft lies in nurturing talent; children and young people must be able to learn about craft at school and have access to excellent teaching throughout their education.
• For further information about the Crafts Council visit www.craftscouncil.org.uk
• The Crafts Council is supported by Arts Council England. Arts Council England works to get great art to everyone by championing, developing and investing in artistic experiences that enrich people’s lives. As the national development agency for the arts, it supports a range of artistic activities from theatre to music, literature to dance, photography to digital art, and carnival to crafts. Between 2008 and 2011, Arts Council England will invest £1.3 billion of public money from government and a further £0.3 billion from the National Lottery to create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country.
