COI Craft Fairs 1.33

The COI Cooperative Crafters Fair will be a market like no other. We believe that every person should have the chance to have a small business and that every small business should have a chance.

As a ‘not-for-profit’ organisation our aim is to bring together seasoned and new traders in order to create a supportive and affordable environment for all. We have priced our Fair so that people who may otherwise be unable to start trading will be able to take up this opportunity in the heart of Edinburgh. We do however want to ensure that established artists and crafters can take advantage of it too.

Between October and December of 2015 we intend to pilot the concept of community empowerment in this way with the ultimate aim of creating a long term programme. This Programme we hope, will help to tackle some of today's pressing issues such as high unemployment levels amongst our youth, lack of opportunity for vulnerable members of the community, as well as providing opportunities and a safe, supportive environment for people to overcome personal barriers which may prevent them from starting a new venture.

Our goal is to harness the collective brilliance and talents of Scotland's crafters in order to unleash the potential of those who wish to join us along the way.