Hove Museum & Art Gallery is now one of the 15 venues working in partnership with the Crafts Council to bring Photostore to its visitors. Photostore, originally conceived by the Crafts Council in 1993 and launched in 1994, enables users to search quickly and simply for contemporary craft. Through it, public can access the work of over 900 selected craftspeople represented by 40,000 images.

Photostore allows you to search for contemporary British craft by maker’s name, type of object, material or technique and to obtain contact addresses, biographies of makers and images of objects through a mail order service. It is a key resource behind the Crafts Council’s commitment to raising awareness and appreciation of makers’ work and to improving economic support for makers by creating opportunities to sell and exhibit their work.

More than 20,000 people annually use Photostore and it has proved an essential visual research tool for buyers, agents, galleries, exhibition curators, architects, designers, students and teachers. It is used extensively to commission craft by both individuals and businesses.

Louise Taylor, Director of the Crafts Council, says: ‘The successful launch of the first phase of Regional Photostore means increased access to the Photostore resource. Photostore is a key medium for the Crafts Council and partner venues to provide public access to contemporary craft as well as helping to raise the profile of innovative British craftspeople across the country and abroad.’

Tom Bloxham MBE, Chair of Urban Splash in Manchester, says: 'The Crafts Council's Photostore is both fun and easy to use. It is a great way to see the work of hundreds, if not thousands, of talented designers all in one place. I would recommend it to anybody with an interest in contemporary craft and design.'

Photostore terminals are at 15 venues selected by the Crafts Council in conjunction with the Regional Arts Councils. The provision of the terminals has been made possible by the Crafts Council, National Lottery Funding through the Arts Council of England and by funding from the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851.