About The Trust
Why Art, Craft, Design And Social Care?
In 1968 a fellow Quaker wrote “Crofton Gane’s main concern was that men should enjoy their work and find fulfilment in it. All his activities, spread over his long life, arose from his faith in man's inherent dignity as a maker. He believed that man would come through because God is in him. He believed, therefore, in tomorrow. Beauty of form and excellence of craftsmanship were his delight.”
The Trust’s Origins
The Gane Trust was created at Bristol in 1954, by Crofton Gane (1877-1967). A pioneering furniture designer and manufacturer, his was a family firm, first Trapnell and Co., then Trapnell and Gane, then Gane’s of Bristol. He joined the firm in 1896, served in the Friends’ Ambulance Division in the First World War, returned to Bristol and became passionate about the new modern spirit in design, founding a Bristol branch of the newly formed Design and Industries Association.
Crofton Gane And Modernism
Under his leadership a traditional furniture firm became a remarkable (and rare) champion of modern design in Britain. When the leading Bauhaus designer, Marcel Breuer, came to Britain as a refugee from Nazi Germany, a lifelong friendship began. Among his many commissions for Gane was one of Breuer’s two all-time favourite buildings - the little Gane Pavilion, built in 1936 for the Royal Show in Ashton Park. It was to showcase Gane furniture, which for customers “created a new way of living adapted to the modern world”.
Crofton’s Legacy
It is not surprising that Crofton should have set up a trust to better people’s lives. The firm was a model for human relations - as early as 1935 a bonus scheme and medical scheme were introduced which included share allotments for the workers. He was fascinated by fresh ideas and quick to give the word of encouragement, continually writing to people who were undertaking some creative service. To everything that was making a "contribution" (to use his favourite word) he was willing to give his great energy, his thought and his money.
CROFTON REMEMBERED
“He never grew old. He had a continuous joy in living and his questing, eager, always hopeful spirit sustained him. Even in his last years when his tall figure was bent and his hearing was difficult he used to sing to himself as he walked across the Downs on his way to Meeting for Worship.”
Meet The Trustees
Who are we?
We are a group of five trustees who live in the Bristol-Bath area. Between us we aim to represent all the interests of the Gane Trust, and the range of skills required to run a charity.
Interested in becoming a Gane Trustee?
Are you keen to work with us on supporting emerging artists, crafts people, makers and care professionals with an innovative grants and award programme in the South West?
The Gane Trust is currently seeking to recruit up to four new board members to join as Trustees. We would like to hear from people with experience in the arts and social care, and particularly from candidates with expertise and experience in the key areas of:
• Legal and Governance
• Social Media & Website Development
• Craft & Design
• Social Care & Nursing
We especially welcome applications from candidates from Black and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, younger people and those with disabilities who are under-represented in our current board.
Prior trustee experience is preferable but not essential. We welcome applicants who wish to gain trustee experience.
Application deadline: Friday 25 October 2024
Interviews will be held on: Monday 4 November, Tuesday 5 November or Saturday 9 November.
For an application pack, and if you would like an informal chat before applying, please email the Gane Trust secretary secretary@ganetrust.org.uk.
- Education
- Social care
- Making
- Museums
- Commerce
- Manufacture
- Finance
- Law
What do we do?
Grant Giving
We meet three times a year to award Gane grants, which we take very seriously. We meet in between for events or to discuss specific topics - the new website, finance or organising visits.
Education Partners
Specific trustees have built up relationships with our partner Universities and Colleges, so we keep in touch with staff within departments, and we always present awards ourselves.
Community Activity
We are active in many ways. We organise the biennial Gane Trust/DIA lecture on design, we present an award for the Society of Designer Craftsmen at their annual show and we recently stepped in to save an iconic group of 1930s furniture for Bristol, designed by Marcel Breuer.
