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Dorsetshire Arts and Crafts. 



[Oct., 



DORSETSHIRE ARTS AND CRAFTS, 



1921, 



Miss M. B. Mansel. 



A GENERAL survey of the year's work done in connection with 

 the Dorset Arts and Crafts Association is full of encouragement. 

 Classes have sent their work to various exhibitions. Keenness 

 IS everywhere apparent, and in spite of the fact that the annual 

 county exhibition was held during the coal strike, which 

 paralysed transport, exhibits and visitors were above the 

 average in number. The high standard of work required by the 

 judges in no way discouraged the efforts of individuals or class 

 work. What we earnestly endeavoured to inspire in workers in 

 all handicrafts is the desire to achieve the highest, both in' 

 design and execution, bearing in mind that the work sent is 

 primarily for exhibition and that sales must be subordinate to 

 the first principle. Sales are welcome and necessary : without 

 them it would be impossible to ' ' carry on ' ' and repay the initial 

 outlay, the cost of all kinds of material being still very high. 

 Eeputation for good work should ensure a good sale. 



The Dorset Arts and Crafts x\ssociation has been in existence 

 for 15 years and has held an exhibition each successive year, 

 which has proved exceedingly valuable in setting up a high 

 standard of work. ]\Iedals and certificates of merit are much 

 sought after, and only awarded by the professional and expert 

 judges when they reach the necessary standard. Criticism is 

 sometimes very drastic, but at the same time all possible encou- 

 ragement is given : both inspire further efforts to produce a better 

 class of really artistic and practical articles. 



The exhibition is useful, not only in stimulating and develop- 

 ing class work, but also in assisting individuals — bhnd, disabled 

 ?nd others — by advertising, selhng their goods, and procuring 

 orders for them. Letters have been received testifying to the 

 real help the Association has been in bringing the products of 

 the workers before the public, both by means of the exhibition 

 and by privately advertising and pushing their wares. It is very 

 much to be hoped that the Association has a long career of use- 

 fulness and prosperity before it. 



Development. — Mr. Berens. who instituted the Studland and 

 Swanage Arts and Crafts class, which includes leather work, 

 metal work, needlework, wood and stone carving, painted and 

 gilt wood, emphasises to his pupils the principle of originality in 



