THREE Mid Devon social enterprises are pleased to announce funding has been confirmed for a collaborative winter programme of historically-rich and environmentally-sensitive craft workshops inspired by Dr James Fox’s new book “Craftland”.

Mid Devon District Council has funded the project from the Love Your Town Centre, Creative Communities Scheme.

EcoCraftland Crediton will feature 10 events by a range of practitioners to share know-how and reveal connections to our local ecosystem - and make new connections between people.

Artists, craft practitioners, and local historians with suggestions for the content of the programme are urged to get in contact with: [email protected] .

The Bookery will host the events in their community extension of the community bookshop that is known locally as the Hub.

They have subcontracted Significant Seams to produce the programme.

The Turning Tides Project and Significant Seams are together developing equal access coaching support as part of the project.

All three social enterprises advocate and model values and ways of being that address contemporary social challenges - and contend that business done this way helps create stronger communities and, as a result, economies.

All three partners believe that in rural market towns like ours, the high street has a substantial role in breaking down isolation, promoting equal access, and signposting and that creativity and stories are the common ground of community.

The events in the programme will build on the idea of the High Street as a public place of community as well as commerce.

Significant Seams build community and support people in vulnerable life moments using art and creativity.

It runs creative workshops, makes artwork with communities, learns about communities through creative research and evaluation, and provides sewing supplies for social good.

Significant Seams has a small group of core artists and creative people who are passionate about art for health and community building work.