Established as a community interest company in August 2023, Artisan (Chagford) CIC is a retail outlet for artists and makers in Devon and the southwest, both professional and amateur, established and new.
Chagford and the nearby towns and villages are home to a vibrant community of artists and makers, many of whom are full time makers. Many are members of the Devon Artists Network and exhibit as part of the annual Devon Open Studios, and some have been selected to show their work at MAKE Southwest. The Wonderworks Craft Festival is a highly successful annual event established by two local makers.
Unless they are very successful, many artists and makers struggle to find outlets to sell their work. Some sell directly at regular or occasional craft fairs, some sell online, some participate in annual open studios events. Artisan aims to offer a year-round opportunity to sell their work, also to provide a venue for new artists to have their work displayed. Most of the makers in Artisan are very local to the shop and live in Chagford, Moretonhampstead and surrounding villages.
artisan
As a community interest company, our objects are:
to carry on activities which benefit the community of artists and skilled craftspeople in Devon and the southwest making functional and/or decorative items in limited quantities using traditional techniques
to benefit the residents of Chagford (Devon) and the surrounding areas
to provide a retail outlet and gallery space for makers, using any surplus from trading to fund employment opportunities for local people, and through facilitating workshops to support the artistic and creative activities of professional and amateur artists and makers, to provide enjoyment, educational and therapeutic benefits for the community.
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The Makers' Mark
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Maker’s marks were originally the fingerprints of antique china. Serving as both evidence of its origin, age, and often quality, the makers mark on a porcelain item is the first place many collectors look before making a purchase.
For any piece of artwork, the mark is a symbol of pride in the manufacturer's workmanship. This unique stamp ensures authenticity, helping the buyer to assess the value of the item.
Essentially the artists signature is our modern day trademark intended to instill confidence in the buyer, and inspire a sense of loyalty in the heart of the satisfied collector.