The ever-popular Perthshire Creates Christmas Design Market is set to return on the 23rd and 24th of November, providing an opportunity to source original Christmas gifts with a bit of creativity and individuality directly from the artists and makers.
Perthshire Creates is a network designed to support creatives from across the region to showcase their work, and this event is a great opportunity to meet and buy direct from the makers. This free entry event will feature 54 makers over the weekend, ten of whom will be there both days, joined by a different 22 artists and makers on both Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 November. This year’s event welcomes 24 new artists to the Christmas Design Market.
The work available is hugely varied, featuring original designs and handcrafts, and makes for a thoughtfully chosen gift. Keeping Christmas shopping local in Perth also provides valuable support for independent makers from across the region.
With a number of jewellers, glass artists, printmakers, textile artists, painters, ceramicists, woodwork artists taking part, there’s a fantastic selection of contemporary craft to enjoy and buy.
Jenna McDonald, a jeweller from Crieff, has been taking part in the Christmas Design Market since it began in 2015. She said:
“I am delighted to take part in the Perthshire Creates Design Market for many reasons! It’s a joy to exhibit in my home town alongside so many talented local artisans. As a maker, I love having the opportunity to get out of my studio to meet new and existing customers, chatting about my Jewellery Making Workshops (which I will be hosting from my new studio space within the Perth Creative Exchange from early next year) and catching up with other stallholders! “
Perth based jeweller Diana King, who is a regular stallholder, said:
“As a stallholder with the Perthshire Creates Design Market, I can rest assured that the overall feel of the Design Market is one of the quality products lovingly handmade to the highest standard. The location of the Civic Hall is a beautiful space to set up the Market, it has great natural and artificial lighting to enhance displays and plenty of room for visitors to browse and stroll around. It is perfect for welcoming new and existing customers visiting the city centre and enjoying the market’s riverside location.
I love to use markets and fairs to meet my customers, bringing the shopping experience back to how it should be, face to face with a person”.
Jon Bishop from The Grey Earl, based in Comrie, is a new exhibitor at the Design Market and has this to say about taking part:
“I’m hugely excited to be taking part in this year’s event. Having met some of the other makers and artists throughout the year, I am excited to be sharing a platform with some really talented creatives. It feels like a very supportive creative community which the Perthshire Creates team represent, all coming together at this year’s Christmas Design Market. Also, it’s an opportunity for me to do some festive shopping whilst supporting other local independent businesses.”
The Perthshire Creates Christmas Design Market is open from 10 am to 4.30 pm on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 November, at the Civic Hall, 2 High Street, Perth. Entry to the market is free, with a suggested £1 donation to help the local cultural charity, Culture Perth and Kinross, support future events.
The Perthshire Creates Christmas Design Market website highlights the work and the artists who will be taking part.