Andy Christian has spent 30 years joining up the Arts with business. He has worked to make the two enhance one another for a strengthened whole.
He graduated from Goldsmiths’ College in 1977 and has worked as a teacher, painter, retailer, writer and exhibition organiser. His enthusiasm for the fusion of business survival skills and the Arts led him to instigate the Business Studies Department at The University of Cumbria in 1980 .During these years in Cumbria Andy worked closely with Bill on aspects of business and the Arts to develop the Guild of Lakeland Craftsmen and establish their trading company to run their gallery in Keswick. He researched the marketing of craftwork for the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and served on the Visual Arts panel of Northern Arts. He chaired the Northern Arts Crafts panel and was a company director of Artic Producers Publishing Company who launched Artists Newsletter (AN) and many self help books for artists and craftspeople.
Andy moved to the West Country in 1987 to become the first director of the Devon Guild of Craftsmen. Nine years later the Guild’s premises were completely paid for, their membership had increased and spread across the whole South West Region; regular support had been established from the Regional Arts Council and 90% of the Guild’s income was self generated.
In 1996 Andy was invited by the Trustees of Dartington Hall to become the Managing Director of the Dartington Trading Company. Between 1996 and 2008 he developed this crafts based retail operation into a vibrant centre with a current annual turnover of nearly £4m. The Cider Press now welcomes annual visitor numbers in excess of 600,000. During each year of his tenure as Managing Director it returned substantial profits to The Dartington Hall Trust for use in its charitable activities. It has a distinct brand and is well known for innovative, design led gifts and exceptional craftwork. He was a member of the senior management team and an advisor to Schumacher College & High Cross House (the Archive) and was charged with developing new opportunities for Dartington.
Whilst at the Devon Guild and at Dartington, Andy was invited by John Makepeace OBE to teach Business Studies to his furniture design students at Parnham College. He taught there for five years. He also spent five years as an advisor to the Crafts Council of Ireland.
Andy Christian continues his involvement with teaching, researching product development, writing and with exhibitions. He has a particular interest in the subtle way a conducive, well operated environment, can combine with customer care to make compelling force for good in an organisation. He works on a one to one basis with small businesses and sole traders particularly those in the arts.
He writes on a regular basis for Ceramic Review, Ceramics; Art and Perception, Proof and Resurgence magazines. Last year he edited and published ‘ Heather Jansch’s Diary’.
Key Experience
ANDY CHRISTIAN specialises in the development of arts based businesses. He has worked in this area for the last thirty years and has run two very successful, high profile, retail and exhibition based organisations,The Devon Guild of Craftsmen and Dartington Cider Press Centre. In both he increased visitor numbers, developed their regional and national profiles and consistently introduced programs of innovation and development as the centres grew and developed.
His skills as a writer make him a natural choice in developing promotional material and working on marketing and media campaigns. He understands the possibilities and limitations of the tourist market and has diagnosed ways to attract customers and clients who match the work of different artists and organisations. He is keen to work with energetic and passionate people. He relishes the use of his knowledge and experience to help with the pricing of work, finding appropriate galleries and shops and with the development of retail sales.
