Contemporary Applied Arts is a registered charity (No. 235914) set up in 1948 to champion and promote applied artists, makers and craftspeople in the UK. Our gallery is the premier exhibition and retail venue for the appreciation, education and purchase of applied arts. 

Through its membership programme, CAA offers selected UK-based professionals the opportunity to exhibit and sell their work through an established central London venue and become part of a network of highly respected and talented makers. 

ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for CAA membership, you must be a professional maker living and working in the UK (for tax purposes), and working in one of the following disciplines: ceramics, furniture, glass, jewellery, metal, paper, textiles, stone, or wood.

Applicants must be skilled in their field.  CAA does not represent students or those who produce work on an amateur basis.  Members of CAA must be actively producing work for exhibition and/or sale. 

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

All Members will: 

• Be represented through the gallery space (for retail sale and/or in special exhibitions) as appropriate 
• Be represented on the website 
• Be represented through promotional material, both in the gallery, online and in email newsletters
• Receive regular newsletters and exhibition leaflets from CAA 
• Receive invitations to private views and other CAA events 

All Members have the opportunity to: 

• Show new bodies of work/profiles of work within the gallery 
• Give and attend artists talks and other ‘learning’ events 
• Submit proposals for exhibitions and/or curate shows 

New Members have the opportunity to: 

• Be featured in an annual exhibition showcase for New Members 3rd November – 17th November 2026. Accepted New Members must have work available for these dates.

On selection, all Members will receive a copy of the CAA Membership Policy, which works as a contract to outline what Members can expect from CAA as a membership organisation, and in turn, what CAA can expect from its Members.

FEE

Membership is £150 per year. Payment for membership must be made by direct debit through GoCardless, to be set up upon acceptance as a member. 

SELECTION PROCESS

Selection of members is by a panel of professionals made up of senior CAA maker members. In some cases, the panel may recommend that the applicant re-applies at a later date and this will be clearly indicated in correspondence. 

All applications are assessed on the criteria outlined below. Applicants will be informed of the outcome of the first stage within 28 days of the deadline date. The panel’s decision is final. Due to the high volume of applications, the panel is not able to give individual feedback to unsuccessful applicants.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Knowledge of Material: The maker should demonstrate in-depth knowledge of, sensitivity to and appreciation of the material that they work with.

Skill in Technique: The maker should demonstrate that they have fully mastered the techniques used, and be a specialist within their field.

Quality of Work: The work must show integrity, be resolved and complete, and be executed to an exceptional standard.  The finish of the pieces must prompt an interest into the craft techniques used.

Originality of Work: The maker must demonstrate innovation, either through a ground-breaking method or using an existing method in a new way.  The work must be truly individual and not derivative of another.

Strong Personal Voice/Identity: The work must demonstrate creativity and a consistency in quality throughout all pieces of work, and be clearly identifiable as individual of the maker.

Knowledge of Cultural Context & Techniques: The processes used and finished work must be well-researched, and the maker must demonstrate potential for development/ the ability to develop further within the field.

Suitability: The panel must feel that the work clearly fits within the remit of CAA, and can be effectively represented through the organisation’s activities.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your application via the online form by 1st SEPTEMBER 2026.

1. Details of 8 recent works

Provide hi-res images, short descriptions, dimensions and artist’s prices for eight pieces that are representative of your current practice. The artist’s price is the trade or cost price (price before gallery markup). Ensure that the file name of each image clearly contains both your name and the title of the artwork.

2. Recent CV

Your CV should include the following headings (where applicable): Personal details, Education/Qualifications, Exhibitions (Solo and group shows), Stockists, Publications and Press, Commissions/Public Collections, Awards, Employment 

3. Artist’s statement 

Provide a description (300 words maximum) of your work, inspirations and motivations. 

4. Technical notes 

Provide a description (150 words maximum) of the processes and techniques used. 

6. £25 administration fee 

An administration fee of £25 is payable with each application and is non-refundable. Payment can be made through the online application form.

Please DO NOT send any additional information unless specifically requested by CAA.

For questions regarding the application process, please email apply@caa.org.uk