1920.] The Dorset Arts and Crafts Association. 



769 



THE DORSET ARTS AND CRAFTS 

 ASSOCIATION: 



A SUSTAINED AND SUCCESSFUL EFFOET. 

 Miss M. B. Mansel, 

 Secretary to the Association. 



The Dorset Arts and Crafts Association was started in 1905^ 

 with the object of encouraging handicrafts work in the county. 

 An Executive Committee was formed, and lists of articles, the 

 manufacture of which it was intended to promote, were drawn 

 up. These were adapted from those in use by the Wiltshire 

 and Somerset Associations, which had been in existence for 

 some years. From the first there was no doubt of the 

 popularity of the movement. Exhibits of all kinds and qualities 

 poured in, the result of many years work of " home industry." 

 It was considered, desirable at the commencement not to be too 

 drastic in disqualifying any exhibit, and so possibly damping 

 the enthusiasm of an exhibitor, but rather to encourage every 

 kind of effort until the exhibitors gradually learnt the type 

 of article which would be most useful and likely to command a 

 sale. Exhibitions are held annually in the county, and inferior 

 work has dropped out, in consequence, and the exhibits have 

 become less numerous, but the quality and workmanship have 

 improved. 



In the early days of the movement there were not many 

 organised classes in the villages, and only a few in the towns, 

 but, with the assistance of grants from the Association to 

 meet the initial expense of starting classes, and to cover 

 such incidental expenses as material, tools, lighting and heat- 

 ing, and the holding of the annual Exhibition, instruction is 

 now being given on a large scale, and much pleasant and profit- 

 able employment is provided. Basket, leather and metal work, 

 and ornamental and useful needlecraft classes were organised 

 in the villages and small towns, and in a short time were 

 working well and soon became self-supporting. 



Class work and co-operation among the members are 

 essential to the success of an Association. A number of 

 exhibits of the same kind from one class promotes competition, 

 and results in the work being more skilfully executed. A class 

 will soon acquire a reputation for good work, and if reliance 

 can be placed on the goods made, orders for large quantities may 

 be received. When several members of one class work together 



