Deirdre Figueiredo is 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.  Since 1986 Craftspace has been working in partnership with makers and artists, audiences, venues and a diverse range of organisations to push boundaries and perceptions around contemporary crafts practice, touring exhibitions and audience development. Craftspace aims to initiate programmes of work which stimulate artistic excellence, critical thinking and understanding of contemporary crafts in the widest social and cultural contexts.

As Director of Craftspace Deirdre has been involved as a selector for the Crafts Council’s Chelsea Craft Fair and the first Origin in 2006.  She has also judged the Nottingham and Leamington Open exhibitions and has been a selector for the Arts & Business Virtual programme.

Deirdre has worked in the fields of Visual Arts, Cultural Diversity and Museums since 1988, initially at Cartwright Hall in Bradford and then Nottingham Castle Museum. She was Cultural Development Officer for Leicestershire Museums Service curating the South Asian collections and developing innovative outreach programmes, community projects and exhibitions to promote diverse cultures.

Over the past 16 years she has contributed to various advisory panels and committees including the Museums Association Equal Opportunities panel, Arts Council England’s Capital Lottery panel and Cultural Diversity Advisory Panel, a Crafts Advisor for West Midlands Arts, a member of the Advisory panel for the HUB Centre for crafts, design and making in Sleaford, Lead Advisor for Diversity at Arts Council England and a member of the Decibel Programme Board. She is currently a Council Member of Arts Council England West Midlands region and a board member of Audiences Central. She is also a member of the Creative and Cultural Skills Crafts Advisory Panel and is currently involved in steering, formation and running of a Crafts network as part of the national Cultural Leadership Programme.