The papers in this volume represent the results of the first Making Futures international research conference held in September 2009 at Mount Edgcumbe House, in the Mount Edgcumbe country estate that lies across the River Tamar opposite the City of Plymouth, UK.

The purpose of the Making Futures conference series is to improve understanding of the ways in which the contemporary crafts are practised in relation to significant and new emerging agendas relating to global environmental and sustainability issues. The objectives included trying to understand whether these ‘agendas’ offer opportunities for the crafts to redefine and reconstitute themselves as less marginalised, more centrally productive forces in society, through new formulations and/or re-articulations of practices, identities, positions and markets, in ways that might engage more closely with contemporary social and cultural needs.

Thirty-nine presentations were selected for the final conference programme following a process of double-blind abstract reviewing by a distinguished peer review panel. By far the overwhelming majority of presenters (thirty-five) responded positively to the post- conference call to publish and all are included in this volume, and accompanied by an introductory essay by Malcolm Ferris, the conference curator.

To ensure the widest possible dissemination Making Futures is published as an open-access academic resource for all those interested in its theme.

Malcolm Ferris, Editor

Making Futures: The Crafts in the Context of Emerging Global Sustainability Agendas. Vol 1. ISSN 2042-1664

The republished volumes of the Making Futures Journal 2009-2019 showcase six articles from each conference. We invite the reader to cast an eye over these articles that the editorial board felt best represented each year.

Any reference to former institutions (notably Plymouth College of Art/PCA) remain unedited in past editions of the Making Futures Journal for historical accuracy.