After running for 10 years Norfolk Creations are planning their biggest ever year of exhibitions and it has got off to a great start with them winning the Norfolk Small Business Award 2023 for “Business Hero”.
Norfolk Creations is a not-for-profit organisation run by volunteers that through exhibitions and markets showcase the work of talented Norfolk based artists, artisan makers and creators.
They were originally founded in 2013 by Liz Jenkins from Bunwell and last year they celebrated their 10th anniversary. Over those ten years, they have increased the number and length of their exhibitions, as well as the number of Norfolk venues they exhibit in.
In those ten years they have also been able to support and showcase the work of over 90 Norfolk based artisan businesses and in last years exhibitions over 45 creators were supported. They pride themselves on being able to offer a great shopping experience and always endeavour to offer visitors a wide variety of different arts, crafts and makes with a mix of both traditional and contemporary.
As already mentioned - 2024 sees them start the year with a bang - with them being awarded the Norfolk Small Business Award 2023 for “Business Hero”. This adds to two EDP Norfolk Arts Awards gained in 2022 for Best Small Organisation and The Business and the Arts Award. Liz Jenkins, their original founder is “thrilled with our award - it is great to get recognition for the work we are doing supporting Norfolk artisan businesses - we love working with the artisans, Norfolk is a very talented county. Having run an Artisan business myself, I know how difficult it can be to get established hence my founding of Norfolk Creations.”
With the number of exhibitions they now hold and the number of artisans they support Liz now has three other volunteers who work alongside her - Christine Herring is one of those volunteers and is now co-organiser with Liz and had the honour of collecting the latest award at the Awards Evening on Saturday 17th February “It was a great moment being able to collect the Business Hero award on behalf of Norfolk Creations. It makes me feel really proud of the group and it’s lovely to be recognised for the work we do”.
Liz and Christine believe one of the strengths of Norfolk Creations is the way they work. “We operate slightly differently to other craft fairs in that we tend to hold longer events ranging from 4 days to 3 weeks long. All the exhibitors take turns to steward at the events. The advantage of this is that we can accommodate more exhibitors at an event and because they don’t have to attend everyday it enables exhibitors time to continue making and creating or fit it around another job”.
This year Norfolk Creations have 13 exhibitions and Christmas Markets planned (so far) including Wells Maltings, The Forum Norwich, Thornham Village Hall, Wymondham Becket's Chapel and Diss No8 Marketplace, which is a brand new venue for them.
“We are always looking for new venues throughout Norfolk that we can use to showcase some of the county’s talented artisan crafters and Diss is our newest venue - it is a beautiful venue and we are excited about our first exhibition there in May”.
Wanting to give back to their numerous visitors, some of whom visit frequently, 2024 sees Norfolk Creations introduce a Customer Loyalty Card Scheme.
Anyone interested in visiting one or more of the Norfolk Creations exhibitions and markets or exhibiting with them, you can visit their website, FB or IG pages.
A few dates for your diary - They will be holding three local exhibitions - they will be at No 8 Marketplace, Diss 1st to 4th May and 12th to 15th June and then back at Wymondham Arts Centre in Becketts Chapel from 30th July to 4th August - open daily.
