THIS year marks the 20th anniversary of Hereford Contemporary Craft Fair, a unique showcase of work from a wide range of makers that has become a firm date on the county’s arts calendar.

Once again, the seats will be removed from The Courtyard’s main auditorium to be replaced for three days by more than 60 stands displaying the work of contemporary designers working in traditional and non-traditional media.

The first Contemporary Craft Fair took place in 1993 with approximately 30 exhibitors at the Town Hall in Hereford.

“There wasn’t space for more than that,” says Mike Gell of Mike Gell Gallery in Hereford, who played a part in establishing an event that has earned a considerable reputation in the past two decades. “I was the one on the committee who had been to more fairs over the previous 20 years and we got together and hammered out a proposal for how it should be set up,” he says. “I just had an advisory role to help get something of quality going.”

Mike, who also founded Alloy Jewellers, a group formed to bring designer makers together, adds: “The Contemporary Craft Fair came about largely because of Natalia Silver’s enthusiasm. I think the craft fair and Alloy would have been formed without me, but not without Natalia.”

Five years after the first event, the craft fair moved to The Courtyard, and Lottery funding was secured to fund bespoke stands, made locally, and specially designed lighting.

Mike will open this year’s show with Natalia, whose initiative the first fair was. “It originally started,”

she recalls “when I was the Traditional and not so traditional craft new arts officer for Hereford City Council and Craftspace Touring were coming to Herefordshire with an exhibition about design jewellery. I thought it might be nice to complement that with a few local jewellers. I talked to a few people, including Mike. and out of the woodwork came all these fantastic design jewellers. Then other craftspeople started asking for something similar for their craft – that’s where the idea came from, and it was very much about contemporary work and showcasing what the county was (literally) made of, with the emphasis on quality. The jewellery exhibition really opened my eyes to the amazing talent in the county that we needed to shout about.

“I suppose my goal in terms of the standard of work was to emulate Chelsea Craft Fair – now Origins – and I think it definitely does.”

Proud as she is, though, of how the Craft Fair has developed in the past 20 years – “It’s very much put Herefordshire on the map in terms of creative industry, we can hang our hat on it.”

– Natalia says that she has “more of a soft spot”

for the artists she has seen diversify and grow.”

Having been set up by the city council, this year’s Craft Fair will for the first time be managed by Brightstripe, which specialises in visual arts, sport and physical activity in the county.

More than a third of exhibitors are Herefordshire-based, including a number making their first appearance. Among them are jeweller Elizabeth Terzza, whose handmade contemporary jewellery is inspired by little botanical treasures found on walks through woodlands and forests, and Marissa Thereze from Hunderton with her vintage-inspired knitwear and accessories.

As in previous years, a first-time county exhibitor is selected for the new exhibitor award, and this year the accolade has gone to mixed media artist Hollie Anderson (above) who makes intriguing narrative figures born from ritual and folklore.

As part of the award Hollie is given a subsidised stand, promotional postcards and publicity.

The selection of makers was made by Jackie Lee, previously of the Arts Council, and Tracey Clarke of the Crafts Council.

Hereford Contemporary Craft Fair runs from Friday, November 15, to Sunday, November 17; 10am to 6pm on Friday and Saturday, 10am to 5pm on Sunday. For further information visit h-craftfair.co.uk