What began as a showcase for the Summer Arts Festival in 2000, evolved into something far more enduring – a living gallery where Africa’s creative spirit found expression in wood, clay, cloth and recycled materials.

Stories At Every Stand

From paintings and head-high wooden carvings to intricate jewellery, leatherwork, textiles and ceramics, the Craft Market on the lawns of Spier became a vibrant space for browsing and buying local crafts in all shapes and sizes. The village ‘kraal’ design – eight trading units arranged around an open central space – offered a comfortable place where visitors could watch pieces being made from scratch, try their hand at making it themselves and chat with artists to discover the stories behind each handmade treasure. Artists worked on-site daily, happy to share their creative processes with curious visitors.

A Model That Mattered

The Craft Market operated as a sustainable social enterprise, built on Fair Trade principles that put artists first. Through a three-way partnership between Spier, curator Sue Heathcock and the participating artisans, the model ensured that creators took home the majority share of each sale. Groups of artists shared trading units, giving them flexibility to run their businesses while maintaining the market’s vibrant, collaborative atmosphere.

Seasons of Change

Over nearly 25 years, the market found different homes across our farm – from the original Mosaic Kraal and parking areas to the dam-side lawns, beneath Wine Tastings, and finally alongside our principal canal. 

Under Sue Heathcock’s dedicated curation, the market evolved from a seasonal showcase into a year-round destination that attracted visitors from around the world. Sue, who has been actively involved in South Africa’s craft and design sectors since 1991, brought decades of experience in exhibition curation and supporting local artisans. Her careful selection of artisans for their craftsmanship and individuality created a space that was always fresh and inspiring for visitors from near and far.

Thank You

To Sue, whose vision brought this dream to life, and to every artisan who shared their gifts beneath our trees – thank you. As this chapter closes, we look forward to weaving the values learnt from the Craft Market – respect for the human hand in creation, the power of art and building spaces where creativity and community intersect – into various projects across our farm.