Ards Craft presents a series of exhibitions, artists talks and workshops as part of the Art in the Loft programme 2012.

The Craft & Design Collective presents 'Collective Creativity', at Space CRAFT, Belfast from Friday, 4th May to Saturday, 2 June 2012. It is an exhibition of work by 17 Graduates of the Creativity Thirst Programme.

As part of its spring craft programme, Flowerfield Arts Centre are hosting a number of glass making workshops in May and June 2012.

Raw Craft is a new touring exhibition, focusing on contemporary furniture, from the Crafts Council UK.

Jerwood Makers Open features new work by five makers each awarded a Jerwood commission. The Exhibition takes place at JVA at Jerwood Space, London from 11th July to the 26th August 2012.

'Stitching the Legend' is an exhibition of work by the Textile Arts Forum, a small cross-border group of textile artists. It takes place from the 8th to the 30th of June at Flax Gallery, Mossley Mill, Newtownabbey.

Assemble 2012 - the Crafts Council Conference - is being held on Thursday 20 September at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), London. The focus of the conference this year is the contribution that craft makes to innovation and enterprise, and the relationship between making and science, technology and engineering.

Textile artist, Michelle Stephens, is a participant on the Craft NI making it programme and is resident maker at R-Space Gallery, Lisburn. In tandem with her first solo exhibition, Michelle is giving a series of workshops at R-Space Gallery in July.

'Fit for Purpose: a practical and conceptual exploration of silver' is being held at the Victoria & Albert Musuem, London, from the 3 April - 9 September 2012.

The Ards Crafts 2012 programme of Meet the Maker events 2012 includes craft workshops, demonstrations and exhibitions.

Down Arts Centre are offering a programme of craft workshops (starting May 2012) with established makers, including wood carving, jewellery, textiles and willow work.

Craft Central's community of designers and makers opens its doors to the public and to sell work directly twice a year - summer and winter. The Summer Open Studios event is being held from the 24-27 May 2012.

Lab Craft is a touring exhibition of the Crafts Council, UK which features 26 makers who explore the use of technology as an extension to the capabilities of the human hand.

This new monthly fair, held at the Vale Centre, Greysteel, began on the 26th February.

The Little Green Market, Lisburn, is held on the 1st Saturday of every month from 11am – 3pm and entry is free.

The Precious Metals Workshop, Edinburgh, holds monthly weekend workshops in different techniques and concepts.

Block Party is a touring exhibition of the Crafts Council which showcases work which has embraced the interdisciplinary nature of the pattern cutter and tailor in a range of contemporary media. The exhibition takes place in a range of venues during 2012, including the National Craft Gallery, Kilkenny.

'Evolving Craft Communities - from the Stone Age to the Digital Age' is the theme of this year's conference. The conference takes place on the 24th March at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London.

Leitrim Sculpture Centre in Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim, have a wide range of craft workshops available as part of their programme for 2012.