From Surrey Craft Legacies and free public workshops to endangered skills and a new community programme, New Ashgate Gallery is putting heritage craft at the heart of its work in Farnham.
As Farnham celebrates Craft Month this October, New Ashgate Gallery is continuing a year-long focus on heritage craft, connecting traditional skills with contemporary makers and giving local people opportunities to experience craft first-hand. Across exhibitions, films, workshops, professional development and community programmes, the independent charitable gallery has spent 2026 exploring how specialist craft knowledge can remain visible, relevant and in use. The work continues this autumn and winter with free public workshops in endangered heritage skills, a winter exhibition bringing together contemporary makers working with long-established skills and materials, and the start of a new community heritage programme funded by Waverley Borough Council.
New Ashgate Gallery’s free Craft Your Year programme has introduced people to skills including stained glass, silk weaving, sprang, hand-stitched appliqué, Shodō calligraphy on wood and community weaving. The latest workshop, led by artist Elizabeth Murton at the University for the Creative Arts on 3 October, formed part of the launch of Farnham Craft Month. The programme is delivered with Farnham Town Council as part of Farnham Craft Town, with support from South Street Trust, and has brought professional makers and accessible craft experiences to families and visitors throughout 2026.
Craft Your Year has recorded 916 attendances so far in 2026.
Among 232 Craft Your Year evaluation responses collected during 2026:
- 99.6% said they enjoyed the activity
- 90.4% of those answering the question said they learnt a new craft skill or knowledge
- 72.8% of responses were from family groups with children
- 97.8% of respondents said free access was very or quite important
- 100% said they would attend another craft activity like this
The results show that practical craft activity is reaching people beyond an established gallery audience.
The programme continues on Saturday 14 November, when basketmaker Judith Needham will lead a free Mini Hurdle making workshop as Farnham celebrates its Christmas Lights Switch-On. Hurdle making is currently classified as endangered on the Heritage Crafts Red List of Endangered Crafts. Judith Needham returns on Sunday 13 December, during Farnham Christmas Market, for a free Rush Mat Weaving workshop. Rush matting is also currently classified as endangered. The workshops offer an accessible introduction to skills with long histories while drawing attention to the importance of keeping specialist knowledge in active use.