Arts & Crafts

This session examined the persistent devaluation of crafts — traditionally associated with women’s domestic labour — relative to fine art, and asked what that hierarchy reveals about whose creativity gets taken seriously. We traced the art/craft distinction to the 15th century, explored fiber arts as a form of feminist protest (craftivism), and asked why the same skill is deemed more valuable when practised by men in professional settings. We also discussed why so few women appear in national gallery collections, and what we can do about it.

1. What are your own creative activities — and did you or others consider them art?
   • The story of the grandmother surrounded by her own art who never called herself an artist
   • What would be your personal distinction between art and craft?
2. Defining art vs craft
   • Craft: practical, recipe-based, and traditionally seen as inferior
   • Art: conceptual, not practical — and much more accessible to those with privilege, both to make and to consume
   • Art as a westernised concept: when something isn't "innovative" (e.g. traditional Chinese ceramics), it tends to be called a craft
   • The distinction appeared in the 15th century and is now beginning to break down — does it matter what we call it, or is the real issue the hierarchy itself?
3. The gender divide in domestic vs professional settings
   • Women cook at home; most top chefs are men
   • Sewing is associated with women; most fashion house CEOs and lead designers are men
   • From medieval cloth-making to Chanel: how did the professional domain shift from women to men?
4. Fiber arts as feminism — craftivism
   • The juxtaposition: knitting as domestic housewife activity vs knitting as political protest
   • The 2017 Women's March and the pussy hat — fiber art as white and cisgender feminism?
   • Opportunities and pitfalls of "choice feminism" (the idea that everything a woman chooses is a feminist act)
5. Why are there so few female artists in national galleries?
   • Women were admitted to art schools only from the late 19th century
   • Female art was historically seen as less valuable and was destroyed or lost over time
   • Today, only 2% of annual art market spending goes to female artists — and mostly just five names
6. What can we do?
   • Call our own work "art" or "creative" — not just a hobby
   • Support female artists: talk about them, share them, challenge museum collections
   • Knit in public