Plymouth Glass Designer Selected For UK's Most Prestigious Craft Fair

26 September 2006: Kamini Chauhan (www.kaminichauhan.co.uk), a Plymouth-based award-winning glass designer, will be one of the big attractions at the UK's most prestigious craft fair, Origin The London Craft Fair (www.craftscouncil.org.uk), at Somerset House from 3 October until 15 October. Kamini is one of twenty nine designer-makers for the south west region to take part in the fair, a Crafts Council initiative. Origin brings together over 300 of the most innovative and influential international design-makers to sell their work. Glass, ceramics, jewellery, metal, furniture, paper, basketry, wood and textiles are all represented, making the fair a true celebration of the unique and the hand-made.

Kamini Chauhan, 29, creates bright and contemporary glass products which are influenced by Japanese styles of art known as Ikebana. Her fluid and floral-inspired vases and vessels have led to her being hailed as a rising new talent in the design world. In 2004, Kamini was commissioned to design and make a glass installation for display at the National Grid Transco headquarters in Warwickshire.

Harrods has selected Kamini to display her work in a one-off solo show during October. She has also recently had a solo show at Canary Wharf in London which featured the work she will be exhibiting at Origin.

In 2005 Kamini was awarded the Crafts Council UK Trade & Investment Award and her work was also shortlisted in the 2005 Elle Decoration Design Awards. Her pieces have been featured in several national press publications, including The Times and Elle Decoration, highlighting her growing reputation in the design world.

Kamini, who completed a Masters degree at the Royal College of Art in London before moving to Plymouth, exhibited at the Milan Furniture Fair this year, a fantastic accolade for a young designer. Since September 2005, Kamini has been part of Next Move, a scheme run by the Arts Council and Crafts Council to help designer-makers. She is based at Plymouth College of Art and Design where the scheme provides a workspace and support in developing her business and making the most of opportunities like Origin.

Nick Capaldi, Arts Council England, South West Executive Director, said: "Kamini Chauhan is one of the designer-makers that make the south west region special. Her work contributes to the creative industries, an area in which our region excels. Origin will provide an excellent opportunity for Kamini's work to reach a wider audience and build on her fast-growing reputation amongst key influencers. We wish her every success."

For further press information about Kamini Chauhan and images of her work please contact:

Kallaway PR
Anna Cusden 020 7221 7883 anna.cusden@kallaway.co.uk
Jessica Blomfield 020 7221 7883jessica.blomfield@kallaway.co.uk

For further information on Origin please contact:
Louise Kelly 020 7806 2580 media@craftscouncil.org.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Arts Council England

• Arts Council England is the national development agency for the arts in England, distributing public money from Government and the National Lottery. www.artscouncil.org.uk
  
  
• The Crafts Council receives annual Arts Council funding. This year, their award is over £3 million to support core costs and other activities including education, exhibitions and market development.
  
  
• Next Move is an innovative setting up scheme run by the Arts Council and Crafts Council, designed to put new designer-makers on the fast track. It provides workspace, access to equipment, grants, training and promotion opportunities in the supportive environment of a college host over a two year period.

About Origin, The London Craft Fair

• The 300 exhibitors in Origin were selected from over 900 applicants by a specialist panel of judges. 27 makers were selected from the south west region and two south west makers will be represented in Springboard, a new exhibition for emerging craft talent at Origin where 24 of the most exciting emerging makers will show and sell their work to the public for the first time.
  
  
• Origin replaces Chelsea Crafts Fair, which was held at Chelsea Old Town Hall in London for 26 years.
  
  
• Origin will showcase over 30% more exhibitors than Chelsea Crafts Fair and will be at Somerset House, Strand, London over two weeks: 3 - 8 October 2006 and 10 - 15 October 2006 (closed Monday 9 October).
  
  
• Disciplines represented in Origin include glass, ceramics, jewellery, metal, furniture, paper, basketry, wood and textiles. All disciplines are represented over the two weeks.
  

Complete List of Designer-Makers from the South West exhibiting at Origin

Designer-Makers from the South West at Springboard:

ORIGIN VISITOR INFORMATION

Dates
Week One: 3 to 8 October 2006
Week Two: 10 to 15 October 2006
Closed Monday 9 October

Venue
Somerset House, Strand, London

Opening Times
Tuesday to Friday 11am - 6pm
Saturday and Sunday 10am - 6pm
Late-night Thursday open until 9pm

Tickets
Tickets are available from Ticketmaster from 1 July
Book online at www.ticketmaster.co.uk or call 0870 160 2853

Ticket Prices
Single ticket £8 (£6 concessions)
One visit in each week £12 (£10 concessions)
Season pass (unlimited entry) £15

Further Information
www.craftscouncil.org.uk/origin
020 7806 2512

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