UNESCO Status Puts Perth’s Craft Heritage on the Global Stage

The designation sits within the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN), founded in 2004 and now comprising almost 350 cities worldwide across seven creative fields, including craft and folk art, design, film, gastronomy, literature, media arts and music.

Within its own subnetwork, Perth is grouped alongside internationally recognised craft cities such as Jaipur and Cairo. Membership of the network does not expire, provided a city continues to meet UNESCO’s requirements, giving the designation a long-term, rather than one- off, value.

As a city and region positioning itself for investment, the practical effects of UNESCO status are already visible. The designation has underpinned the successful delivery of a community assets project, whereby a ceramics kiln, a glass kiln and a photography dark room have been made available to local makers in the Creative Exchange in Perth city.

Delivery of the designation locally is now supported by a full-time member of staff, Poppy Jarratt, whose role is to build the practical and economic case for craft alongside its cultural value. That distinction matters for how the designation is applied.

“The designation itself reflects a heritage of craft production and trade in the city stretching back to the early 1500s, when Perth was known as a ‘Craftis Toun’. Craft is something that is replicable, whereby you can handmake the same thing again and again,” Jarratt explains. “It’s based on teachable skills that can be passed on, differentiating it from fine art, which is more about individual expression.”

This definition underpins a broader argument for treating craft as a commercial sector rather than a purely cultural one. Skills that are teachable and repeatable can be scaled, taught to new practitioners, and turned into consistent trading businesses, workshop income and retail activity, in the same way any other small manufacturing or service business might grow.

Viewed this way, Perth’s UNESCO status is not simply a badge of heritage, but a platform for a sector with a genuine route to commercial growth, employment and footfall.

Of course, the profile-raising effect of the designation is also visible in the city’s cultural offer. Perth Museum, which opened in 2024, has built craft into its core programming, and its Summer 2026 exhibition, ‘Vennels: Perth’s Little Streets’, was brought to life through the history of the city’s closes, alleys and lanes, and the craftspeople who worked in them.

For investors and businesses considering Perth and Kinross, the designation offers a differentiated identity: a city with an internationally verified creative economy, a growing case for craft as a commercial sector in its own right, and active cultural infrastructure to support it.

Make Room: A New Model for High Street Activation

One recent example is Make Room, a pilot scheme using UNESCO-linked funding and profile to bring vacant city centre units back into use for local makers.

Developed as part of the Council’s Perth City Centre Development and Design Framework, Make Room responds directly to two priorities: helping creative practitioners scale their businesses and economic impact, and bringing vacant city centre units back into active use.

The model itself is straightforward. Selected makers are given free use of a fully equipped unit at 19 Princes Street for six to twelve weeks, with no rental or utility costs. In return, they activate the space as a working retail and studio environment, giving the public opportunities to buy, take part in workshops, and see the creative process first-hand.

The scheme also expands on that clear, commercial definition of craft. Jarratt commented, “For the Make Room project, we’re curating an ongoing programme of skilled makers, all of whom have ambitions to develop or grow their commercial practice. And whilst the space isn’t for hobby-level crafters as a primary use, many of our makers will be providing hands-on workshop experiences for everyone to enjoy.”

The first two tenancies included a pop-up trading under the name HARDWEAR – Aileen Sherry of Ayton Clothing and Kristina Merchant of Kmercht Jewellery – and the Kiss My Glass Collective, a group of Perthshire-based artists working in the ancient craft of stained glass.

Christmas at The Make Room, Perth

Perthshire Artisans Craft Edit Pop Up

This winter, discover the creativity, craftsmanship and originality of Perthshire’s vibrant craft community as 18 talented Perthshire Artisans come together for a special Craft Edit Pop-Up Shop at the Make Room, 19 Princes Street, Perth.

This very special Make Room edition invites visitors to explore and purchase a carefully curated collection of high-quality, locally made crafts. From unique festive gifts to beautiful pieces for the home, there will be something special to suit every taste and budget.

More than just a shopping destination, the pop-up celebrates the people and stories behind handmade craft. Visitors can meet the Artisans staffing the shop, discover their creative processes and learn about the skill, care and dedication that goes into every individual piece.

The creative spirit continues into January 2027, with a series of craft workshops planned in partnership between Perthshire Artisans and UNESCO Perth City of Craft.

Led by experienced Perthshire Artisans, these sessions will offer fun, accessible and affordable opportunities to explore different crafts, try new techniques and enjoy the satisfaction of making something by hand.

Opening times: Friday 20 November to Sunday 20 December 2026

Tuesday & Wednesday, 9.30am–1.30pm
Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 12pm–4pm. 

January opening hours and workshop details will be announced on the Perthshire Artisans website and social media channels.

Applications remain open on a rolling basis to craft makers across Perth and Kinross.

Information about the Make Room project can be found at perthcityofcraft.co.uk