School Craft Awards 2008 : Trades House of Glasgow

GLASGOW PUPILS TAKE TOP CRAFT AWARDS

Michael Hunter, a 4^th year pupil at Cleveden Secondary School in Kelvindale, Glasgow, has scooped the top accolade in the annual Trades House of Glasgow School Craft Competition.

The 16-year-old Craft & Design student, who wants to go on to study architecture, was overall winner for his mahogany and pine chess table, produced as part of his Craft & Design standard grade studies. As overall winner, he was awarded a certificate and a cheque for £75.

Michael was among more than 80 pupils from secondary schools across Glasgow who had their craftsmanship rewarded by the Trades House, in recognition of their exceptional craft work produced as part of curricular studies. The awards, supported by Glasgow City Council Education Department, are part of many Trades House initiatives aimed at encouraging the preservation of traditional crafts in parallel with those of the new technology based skills.

Trades of Glasgow Deacon Convener Ian Dunsmore and other senior office bearers presented pupils in all categories with 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd and commended certificates, each also receiving £40, £20, £15 and £10 respectively. Categories included metalwork, woodwork, plastic, portfolio work and the culinary excellence programme. Overall culinary excellence winner went to Mariam Ahmed of Holyrood Secondary, who also received a cheque for £75.

Commenting on the 2008 competition, Ian Dunsmore said: “We reviewed hundreds of submissions before making our commendations and I have to say that the very high quality and design standard of the winning pieces reflects the commitment of both pupils and teachers. It was very easy to forget that the work was produced by schoolchildren.”

All those awarded a first place, will have their pieces on show at Craftex 2008, which takes place at the Trades Hall from Thursday 12 to Sunday 15 June.

Originating from 1605, the Trades House of Glasgow is a federation of the city’s ancient crafts. It was the regulatory body for all craft standards and craft education within the city of Glasgow until 1846. Now its prime function is to administer charitable trusts and encourage traditional crafts in parallel with new technology based skills.