Remember those beautiful looking London landmark bookends we proffered in Santa's Lap last year? Well, good news, they are still available from the Hidden Art shop. However, come January 17th they may not be, as Hidden Art might be forced to close if its LDA funding is cut off.
Hidden Art is a not-for-profit organisation that helps designer-makers and designers transform their passion into products. Based in Shoreditch, Hidden Art supports its members through the online shop, representing them at international trade fairs, runs an annual open studios event and throws a jolly weekend Christmas design fair. It also provides networking opportunities, a bursary scheme and publishes a directory of its members.
Testimonials on their Facebook page give an idea of how useful members find this kind of support and how they would have struggled without it:
"I can't imagine that I would have achieved half as much without the incredible support I have received over my 5 years of membership"
"Hidden Art is too good to lose. It encouraged me to start designing, has sustained my design through courses and design and exhibition opportunities."
"I have benefited in countless ways and can't think of any other organisation that has done so much and brokered with other partners to consistently put designers first."
Nearly 50% of Hidden Arts funding comes from the London Development Agency but it is not yet clear whether the LDA will agree to continue funding any projects in 2011. If this is the case and alternative funding is not found, it's curtains for this highly valued infrastructure organisation and bad news for its designer-maker members.
You can show your support for Hidden Art by 'liking' their Facebook page and leaving them a message. If you've benefitted from membership then please shout about it. Tweet with #helphiddenart and send an email to Boris Johnson. Practically, buy something from the shop while you still can.
