The Guild of St George stands at a critical moment of potential transformation. Our rich legacy of promoting craftsmanship and social good provides a strong foundation, but I would contend that we must now reimagine how we can be a truly dynamic force in the 21st century.

 I believe the opportunity lies in embracing making as a living, evolving practice. Through collaborations which I am currently engaged in, for instance with Factum Foundation, we can see how traditional craftsmanship can intersect with emerging technologies. This approach allows us to preserve heritage while actively shaping the future, in forms which are truly alive to the needs of our time.

The Guild can become a hub for young artists, makers, and thinkers seeking meaningful connections between the past and present. By hosting workshops, residencies, and collaborative projects, we can create spaces that invite innovative engagement with art, technology, and craft, and allow for younger members to come in and contribute a meaningful part in the Guild’s future.

The key is to ask ourselves: What can we create today that matters to our audiences and to those who will become part of the Guild in the years to come? How can we develop programmes that are relevant to these younger generations? A realistic goal should be to transform the Guild into a place which stands for creative production – a place of active learning, innovation, and meaningful making.

This is not about abandoning our history, but about extending it. By bringing making firmly into the foreground and aligning with contemporary artistic and design movements, we can ensure the Guild remains a vibrant, essential institution that continues to inspire, and create.

23rd November 2024, amended 4th December 2024

What we think, or what we know, or what we believe is, in the end, of little consequence. The only consequence is what we do.

John Ruskin

John Ruskin, Blenheim Orange Apple c.1873, Watercolour and bodycolour on watercolour paper; 11.7 x 16.5 cm, Private Collection