Deirdre Figueiredo is the director of Craftspace, a crafts development organisation working to increase opportunities for makers, as well as access to and participation in contemporary crafts for all audiences.
Deirdre has worked as a curator and manager in contemporary visual arts, craft and museums for 30+ years. She has developed expertise in diversity, social engagement and audience development issues. In a wider role she has contributed to a range of advisory panels, boards and steering groups and selected for numerous awards including the Jerwood Makers Open 2017 and the Woman’s Hour Craft Prize 2017. She was the Co-founder and Secretariat of CraftNet, a national craft leadership network and is Trustee of several organisations including The Crafts Study Centre, Punch, The Clay Foundation and the John Feeney Charitable Trust.
She is currently a Trustee of the Crafts Study Centre, the British Ceramic Biennial and the Feeney Trust. Deirdre gave the prestigious Royal College of Arts Peter Dormer lecture in 2021.
