As part of our continuing commitment to promoting the local area, we have launched a new website www.crafttownscotland.org. Our new website includes social media and networking links, the way forward for many organisations and businesses in promoting themselves quickly to a global network. In addition to promoting awareness of the Barony Centre and Craft Studios, [...]

West Kilbride, Craft Town Scotland, has once again caught the attention of Scotland's national media. This week on Radio Scotland's Business programme, presented by broadcaster Douglas Fraser, fellow journalist Julie Peacock visited West Kilbride, describing it as a place "where the local community has joined forces to create an award winning centre of excellence".

Craft Town Scotland was once again involved in the Determined to Succeed (DtS) programme delivered across all three local authorities by the Ayrshire Camber of Commerce. DtS is the Scottish Government's strategy for enterprise in education and its aim is to foster an enterprising culture where young people can develop skills for learning, skills for life [...]

Maggie Broadley, CTS Craft Development Manager, was one of the invited speakers at "Selling the Sizzle" in Inverness. This inspiring makers networking and learning event was hosted by Hi-Arts and organised by Tina Rose, an independent craft curator, journalist and PR consultant  The invitation came about as a result of the one-day Rural Craft Forum [...]

West Kilbride Community Initiative Ltd’s  ‘Finishing Touches’ Fundraising event took place on Friday 13th May. The evening was a huge success with really positive feedback and a grand total of £1,345 raised in support of finishing touches to the Barony Centre. Entry price included a wonderful cocktail provided by local business Class Cocktails and a [...]

Craft Town Scotland was delighted to welcome a party of Estonian and Latvian visitors to West Kilbride. The visiting group consisted of representatives from a cross border project called “Buy Local” based in the south east corner of Estonia and an area around the town of Ape in north east Latvia along the Russian and [...]

The conversion of the Barony Church to a craft centre incorporating exhibition space, retail area, an education facility and cafe is the subject of a £865,000 building contract awarded by West Kilbride Community Initiative Limited (WKCIL) to Clark Contracts. The Main Works contract awarded to Clark Contracts will see additional work on the 19th century [...]

Craft Town Scotland recently hosted the last of 3 national networking events organized by the Rural Craft Forum.  Maggie Broadley, Craft Town Development Manager, is a member of the forum and took part in a similar 2-day conference held in Shetland last summer.  The Rural Craft Forum was established by Hi-Arts (Highlands & Islands Arts [...]

Julia Armstrong of “Couture Darling”, Bespoke Millinery, is the most recent addition to Craft Town Scotland’s Happyhills studios.  Julia graduated with a BA Hons in Interior Architecture from Napier University in the 90’s, working as a freelance designer with an Ayr Architect. Julia discovered a passion, and talent, for hat design and making when she [...]

John Purves: WKCIL Vice-Chair, Carole Cambell-Brown: WKCIL Director and Maggie Broadley: Craft Development Manger were delighted to welcome Ann McKechin, Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland when she visited the Craft Town last week. The Shadow Secretary was on a scheduled visit to North Ayrshire and Katy Clark MP was keen to bring her along [...]