‘Save Our Story’
We have launched our ‘Save Our Story’ Appeal to raise £350,000 for the purchase and improvement of 21 St. Nicholas street.
21 St Nicholas street is to be sold in early 2024, our charity designermakersCIO has the one-off chance to buy this unique Victorian building, ensuring the public have access to learn about crafts and craft skills, inspiring creativity for generations to come.
Owning the building will enable designermakersCIO to secure the future of designermakers21 for Diss, as a dynamic centre of excellence, promoting creative practice, providing employment and business opportunities and attracting tourists from East Anglia and elsewhere.
We plan to raise funds through a combination of grants and fundraising. Attending our events and visiting designermakers21 demonstrates your support for our venture and sends a clear message to our funders.
If you wish to contribute to our ‘Save Our Story’ campaign then please click on the Just Giving image below and you will be redirected to our online Giving page.
Breaking News – May 2023
designermakersCIO continues to push forward
At the beginning of May this year we received the much welcome news that The Foyle Foundation has pledged £50,000 towards our Save Our Story Campaign.
Along with some other sizeable donations, grants and the generosity of our many supporters, we are now closing in on our target of £350,000. We can do this, we will Save designermakers21!
March 2023
designermakersCIO is pleased to announce that our bid for the Levelling Up Community Ownership fund has been successful!
Dehenna Davison MP: “We are delighted to inform you that your application has been successful, and to approve the award of a COF grant of £171,750 capital funding …..to the designermakers21 building purchase to help save your treasured community asset and support the ambitions of your community.”
This is a tremendous boost, but we still need grants, donations etc. to match fund the COF grant up to our target of £350,000. How you could help
Meet the members
Members are crafts people who have a studio at designermakers21, and display work in our galleries. They make their products when the centre is closed to the public. Our members run workshops and are on the premises during opening hours – Thursday to Saturday – pop in and watch them working, ask them a question or even commission something from them. (Click the names below to visit their page)
- Annette Rolston & Mike Fenton
- Birks Holden
- David Whatley
- Janine Oxley
- Joy Holden Mosaics
- Kate Welton Ceramics
- Karen Versfeld
- Marie Mallen
- Paul Sharrock
- The Saori Shed
- Rachel Wiles
- Caroline Hyde-Brown
Meet the Associates
Associates of designermakers21 don’t have studio space on the premises, they make their products elsewhere but have some display space in the gallery. (Click the names below to visit their page)
- Acorn Forge
- Chloe Scott Woven Design
- David Butler
- Kate Heath Silversmith
- Lois Thirkettle
- Nutmeg Glass
- Rob Wheeler
Meet the Guest Members
Guest Members are designer/makers with a temporary studio space at designermakers21. They are with us for 3-6 months, and are on the premises during opening hours Thursday-Saturday. Guest Members are often early career makers, or established makers focusing on a change of direction in their practice. (Click the names below to visit their page)