Highlights Craft Tour has been established for 13 years and is well respected for its high quality work and innovative, often unexpected approach, showing work that often blurs the boundaries between fine art and the applied arts/craft. Traditional craft media including wood, textiles, metal, glass and jewelry is shown alongside installation, film and animation, 3-d printing and new technologies. We are inviting submissions for this year's touring exhibition which will showcase inspiring and exemplary work that addresses the theme of Conflict+Craft.

The theme, Craft+Conflict aims to address a variety of issues:  in rural environments (conservation v agriculture & industry; rewilding v farming); as in war and the destruction of lives, of communities, villages, towns & cities and the subsequent trauma through generations; in the destruction of ancient monuments (in the erasure of evidence of previous cultures) and the refugee crisis caused by conflict around the world.  Conflict can be a very personal issue and can apply to families, in personal and professional relationships.    

An extensive outreach programme is organised with paid talks, demonstration days, mini-residencies and workshop opportunities for local schools, young people and adults. Exhibiting artists also benefit from sales (gallery commission is only 30%). We cover the cost of return of work as well as 2nd class rail fare or equivalent for any education work undertaken.  Our venues are in extraordinary places: old magistrates courts, churches and art centres and we link to local festivals such as C-Art in Cumbria and Lumiere in Durham.  The exemplary quality of our exhibitions has been recognised by Crafts Council, England and as finalist for the Best Exhibition category for the Cumbria Life Culture Awards. Our artist alumni include Rob Ryan, Mike Eden, Nora Fok and Lizzie Farey amongst others.  In 2015 visitors to the exhibition numbered over 11,000 to six venues.  Highlights is an Arts Council portfolio organisation and a registered charity.