Ben Wilde, Archipelago Folkschool

Manifesto point 4 – We strive for fair access to craft and making for all.

“This Manifesto point is a neat way of summing up a lot of what Archipelago Folkschool is about. We are a social enterprise that connects people with craft and central to this is our belief that craft should be accessible to everyone. We work with community groups across Scotland to expand access however we can.”

Ben Wilde trained as a boatbuilder at the North West School of Wooden Boatbuilding in 2008 and has been working as a boatbuilder and teacher since. He ran the boatbuilding programme of the GalGael Trust from 2010 to 2018. He’s also been instrumental in establishing the Clydebuilt Festival in Glasgow and the Glasgow Coastal Rowing Club. 

Since 2018 he has been one of the Directors of Archipelago Folkschool which connects people with craft. They are a Community Interest Company and a collaborative social enterprise which aims to be as inclusive, open and encouraging as possible. They run short residential craft courses in beautiful places, events that teach skills but also encourage participation in communities and connection with the environment.