26 September 2006: Sarah Cant (www.sarahcant.co.uk), a Cheltenham-based award-winning milliner with a growing celebrity clientele including Christina Aguilera and Helena Bonham Carter, 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. [add grant info]Sarah is one of twenty nine designer-makers from 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.

Sarah Cant, originally from the U.S, but now living in Cheltenham, has a growing reputation for her original and striking hat designs. Having obtained a PhD in French Literature at Oxford, Sarah went on to spend two years training as a milliner at Kensington and Chelsea College. In 2002, a hat inspired by the architecture of Peter Jones, (part of John Lewis Partnership in London), was used to promote the opening of the store's central atrium.

Sarah has recently been awarded the top three prizes in The Hat Designer of the Year 2005 Competition. Her pieces have featured in the international fashion press as well as in craft galleries throughout the U.K. She is a member of the Gloucestershire Guild of Craftsmen, with whom she exhibits regularly.

Most recently Sarah has been selected to feature in a documentary series, The Great British Summer, which airs on BBC ONE in November 2006. She and her work will feature prominently in the four programmes, which will capture the spirit of summertime hat-wearing events across the U.K.

The award-winning production of Stephen Sondheim's musical Sunday in the Park with George featuring Sarah Cant's hats has transferred to the West End and is currently running at The Wyndhams Theatre until September 2006.

Since 2003, she has been selected to show annually at the prestigious Chelsea Crafts Fair, now Origin The London Craft Fair. Sarah has been given a £1,000 Arts Council grant to enable her to take part in Origin this year. In September 2004, she began showing her collections at the London Fashion Week Designer Exhibition.

As well as Origin, Sarah will be taking part in the Lustre Contemporary Craft Makers Market (10-12 November), and The Gloucestershire Guild of Craftsmen Exhibition at Waddesdon Manor (8-19 November).

Nick Capaldi, Arts Council England, South West Executive Director, said: "Sarah Cant 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 Sarah's work to reach a wider audience and build on her fast-growing reputation amongst key influencers. We wish her every success."

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For further press information about Sarah Cant 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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