CraftNet Terms of Reference

Purpose

CraftNet is an independent network that promotes leadership and strategic development for
contemporary craft

We will do this this by:

Initiating UK wide, national and international dialogue and joint working

Identifying emerging trends, needs and opportunities to influence change
Generating collective bids for strategic activity
Facilitating regional networking events in collaboration with the Crafts Council and other
partners
Advocating and campaigning for contemporary crafts from informed regional and
national perspectives
Making collective responses to policy and research consultations
Maintaining an active connection between a core group of leaders through regular
CraftNet meetings

Activities

CraftNet utilises a diversity of approaches to keep established and emerging leaders

connected, informed and developed, targeting a range of craft professionals including
practitioners. This could include mentoring, coaching, focus groups, action learning,
collaborative testing and retreats or topic focused workshops.

CraftNet core group members are individuals who represent a range of contemporary craft
interests from guilds and studio groups to commercial interests, galleries, craft development
agencies, independent curators/producers and practitioners. Members also represent and
are active in all regions of England. Core group members are appointed as individuals
rather than as representatives of specific organisations.

CraftNet co-ordinates collective responses, complementary to the Crafts Council and

others, to policy and research consultations to ensure a voice for craft is represented. It is
also a representative group with which any stakeholders and funders can refer, consult and
engage.

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CraftNet acts as an umbrella group to devise strategic partnerships and consortia bids for
funding targeted at interested stakeholders. Delegations of CraftNet members will also be
tasked with identifying and developing relationships with key organisations.

The activities above are complementary to and often developed in partnership with the
Crafts Council and other UK agencies such as Craft NI, Crafts Council of Ireland, Arts
Council Wales, Craft Scotland.

Operational Guidelines

Name

The official name of this consortium is CraftNet.

Structure
CraftNet is an unincorporated group operating through consensus and collaboration. These
operational guidelines are intended to provide a governance structure and protocols for the
core group.

Core group
The core group comprises up to two representatives from each English region (see
appendix 1) who actively take a leadership role in their region. A full complement of the core
group is 18.

1. New representatives are appointed by the core group using criteria and on the
basis of representing a cross section of craft interests including independent
practitioners.

2. Core members are appointed as individuals rather than as representatives of

specific organisations.

3. A representative will belong to the core group as long as they remain in good

standing or until they resign their position.

4. A bi-annual review of core group membership will take place to ensure

commitment, expertise, skills, regional representation and broad representation of

craft interests.

5. A bi-annual review of the terms of reference will take place and any changes will

require a majority decision.

6. A representative can withdraw from the core group provided that they give three

months notice.
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7. CraftNet core group aims to have a minimum of two meetings year across a wide

geographical spread. The quorum will be a third of the existing membership.

8. All decisions at meetings of the core group require a majority vote of the members

present. Decisions of CraftNet will be documented in the minutes of meetings

including rationales for decisions taken.

9. Decisions needing to be made or agreed outside of meetings can be made via

electronic means. In this case decisions will require a majority vote of the existing

core group membership.

10. Individuals in the core group will:

agree to participate in the rotating role of secretariat

cover the costs of their time, travel and other expenses to attend meetings and

represent CraftNet, unless additional funds are secured to reimburse costs

be responsible for attendance of a representative from their region at each meeting

host meetings across regions and assist with securing a venue where appropriate

read and respond to requests for information, papers and notices sent in advance

and to a deadline. If a considered response is not possible they will advise the

secretariat
take responsibility for agreed actions

share responsibility for administrating meetings (setting agenda, minutes, chairing,

arranging hospitality etc)

contribute intelligence, statistics, data and other information to a shared on-line

working space
observe any agreed protocols, agreements, policies and procedures in place

agree not to do anything in CraftNets name unless authorised to by the core group

and/or the secretariat

11. CraftNet as a group and this agreement will continue until a majority of the existing core

group membership agree otherwise

12. If the core group agrees to terminate CraftNet, any unallocated and or unspent funds

that it is responsible for will be returned to the provider as appropriate

Secretariat

1. The secretariat will comprise at least two core group representatives at any one time for

a minimum of one year and a maximum of two years.

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2. The secretariat will rotate across the core group by consensus.

3. The secretariat duties will be:

being a first point of contact and conduit for external enquiries

liaising with partners and stakeholders

referring approaches and potential activities to the core group for shared decision

making. When requesting approval for decisions the secretariat will provide clear

deadlines for responses. The secretariat will be responsible for documenting

decisions for the record.

circulating information to the consortium

convening the consortium meetings and ensuring they are documented.

managing and accounting for any funds provided to CraftNet and/or being an

accountable person in instances where a third party organisation is appointed by

CraftNet core group to manage funds on its behalf.

resolving any disputes arising through the mechanism of majority vote as in point 8.

ensuring proper handover of information, documentation, records and any other

data to the next secretariat.

If general funds are available, and with the agreement of the core group, the secretariat

may claim any relevant out of pocket expenses incurred in the above duties.

Working groups

From time to time working groups will be set up. These may be time-limited and may
include individuals who are not members of the core group as necessary. Working groups
will have:
A written statement of purpose and terms of reference to be agreed by the core group.
An agreed budget if appropriate.
A general plan of action and a plan for communicating their work to the core group.

Finance

Whenever CraftNet consortium wishes to bid collectively for funds it will identify and have a
formal agreement with a lead partner/organisation that can meet all necessary legal,
financial and compliance requirements including due diligence of the funder/investor.

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Sometimes this partner may be an organisation relating to one of the core group
representatives and other times the partner will be an organisation without representation
on the core group.

In the instance of funds being secured for particular projects, a sub group will be formed to
manage and be accountable for the project. This may include financial contribution to time
and overheads from project funds. Project management groups will always have
representation from the secretariat and core group.

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CraftNet Terms of Reference

Appendix 1

English regions comprise:

North West
North East
Yorkshire
East Midlands
West Midlands
East
London
South East
South West

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CraftNet Terms of Reference

Appendix 2

CraftNet appointment criteria for new representatives

When a gap arises a call out will be made for expressions of interest through appropriate
networks.

Applicants will be asked to demonstrate how they meet the criteria through a written
statement referring to point 4 of the operational guidelines and to cover the following:
Skills, experience, knowledge, experience of leadership (including organisational and
practice-led)
What they can bring to the core group
How they will complement the core groups existing range of craft interests, regional
representation, skills and knowledge.

Applications will be processed through a meeting of the core group and the vote of the
majority will ensure fair selection.