Support local creatives and designers with unique York Christmas bauble
This winter, Make It York have collaborated with local artist Emma Feneley to produce a limited-edition bauble celebrating Christmas in York. Proceeds from the baubles will go into a new York Creates Fund, a new micro-fund that will support cultural and creative activity in the city.
The hand-decorated porcelain bauble is unique to York, with Emma’s design featuring famous York landmark Clifford’s Tower in the festive season. It was commissioned by Make It York as part of the 30th Anniversary celebrations of the St Nicholas Fair, following a public competition to create a unique design for the bauble.
Proceeds from the bauble will go into a new fund to support artists and makers in York. The York Creates Fund will provide opportunities for local creatives to produce new work through micro-grants, commissions and competitions. The fund will be held by Make It York and administered in reference to the objectives of York’s Creative Future, the city’s Culture Strategy.
Emma designs are created through unique collages that repurpose wastepaper for her art, and often depict places in the local area. The baubles are high quality white porcelain and hand decorated with Emma’s creation, produced by Foley Pottery.
The bauble is available to purchase from the Visitor Information Centre in York City Centre.
Helen Apsey, Head of Culture and Wellbeing at Make It York, said: “At Make It York, we’re really committed to supporting the cultural and creative sector, so we’re delighted to be collaborating with Emma to launch this beautifully designed bauble. The bauble not only celebrates and raises the profile of the work of a local artist, but its profits will go towards setting up a fund that can benefit even more creatives across York, so this is a key initiative for us. It’s also really nice to be able to do this at Christmas, to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the St Nicholas Fair.”
Artist Emma Feneley said: “The MIY competition has been such a lovely, fun opportunity for me to share and develop my artwork within the local area. It’s always exciting to see your work in print or being used for a purpose, and this felt even more special knowing that the profits will go back into the community and support other creatives. As a smaller, ‘starting out’ artist, this really does make a difference and has already helped to build my profile. Outside of making, I also work full time at a local primary school. The children have been so excited to see the finished bauble and it’s really inspired them to experiment with their own art, knowing that there are opportunities like this to make artwork in a meaningful way.”
About York’s Creative Future
York’s Creative Future has inclusion and participation at its core, and the commitment to ensure that culture is relevant and accessible to everybody in York – regardless of age, background or postcode.
The Culture Strategy has the ambition to transform York – and by 2025 we believe York will be known as a city where outstanding, renowned heritage comes together with a cutting-edge and contemporary approach to creativity – reflecting the city’s rich history and its status as the UK’s first UNESCO Creative City of Media Arts.
About Make It York
Make It York is the city’s Destination Management Organisation, with the purpose to develop and promote the city and its surroundings nationally and internationally.
The company’s remit covers leisure and business tourism, city centre management and Shambles Market, as well as delivering world-class festival and events, including the St Nicholas Christmas Fair, and the city’s ground-breaking Culture Strategy.
For further information please contact:
Culture team at Make It York
Email: culture@makeityork.com