Becoming a Member

Please note that Kathleen Kelly, our Treasurer, will be away from 15 to 23 August.

Parchment Craft Guild Membership Rules and Fees

Membership can be obtained upon application to the Treasurer, Kathleen Kelly and payment of the annual membership fee. If you would like further information, please send an A5 size SAE (2nd Class) to Miss K Kelly, 13, Ashburn Road, Hadrian Park, Wallsend, Tyne & Wear NE28 9UJ.

Guild members receive the quarterly newsletter (containing news, hints and tips and usually, a pattern) as well as a discount on purchases offered to members by well known retailers of craft supplies. The ultimate aim of the Guild is to guarantee that members' work is of the highest standard that will enhance the craft and show it at its very best. For that reason, although not compulsory, members are encouraged to take the exams and benefit from the opportunity to become familiar with and share new techniques and ideas, and also to develop their skills.

Affiliate, Associate, Graduate and Fellow Membership is achieved by work assessment in exams open to anyone wishing to gain recognition of skill. The examination pieces are carefully selected by acknowledged experts in the craft who are Guild members, to demonstrate a range of skills and use of tools available for the craft at different levels of achievement. Although there is a strong focus on traditional methods, as different techniques and tools are developed so the exam pieces have changed over time to reflect this, yet at the same time care is taken to avoid losing techniques that are no longer as popular as they were.

High quality work is required to progress through the various levels to the ultimate position of Fellow.

The four levels of achievement commence with the Affiliate, then Associate, Graduate and finally, the Fellow. The exam standard increases as candidates move up the scale. Fellows and Graduates are invited to become judges. Each set of work for examination is marked by two judges and, to avoid any risk of bias or conflict, the process is anonymous with the identity of a candidate and the judges who have marked his/her paper known only to the Registrar. Full details of the techniques covered and worked samples are available in our Gallery. An invaluable Parchment Craft Hints and Tips Booklet for examination candidates and non-members alike, is also now available.

Successful candidates receive a certificate and a badge. A display ribbon is also provided.

The Guild is independent of any commercial organisation and is non-profit making. All the Judges, the Registrar and Committee Members give their time freely.

Information for members with additional needs
If you are thinking of joining the Guild but have problems with movement and access, please be advised that the Guild operates by a postal system and we do have a few members who are housebound. The exam papers are sent to you and you may complete these in your own home, in your own time. The challenge is that you need to submit your best work, so will probably have to do each piece a few times to get it to your best work. The Guild aims to give you support if you need it, by articles in the newsletter; telephone support, or, if you are able to make them – Guild days. Area coordinators organise occasional Guild days and they will be advertised in the quarterly newsletter. If you would like to attend them, then the best course of action is to contact the organiser to make sure there is wheelchair access available. We are not actually a service provider, as these days are run purely voluntarily and are non-profit making. You will see a variety of events advertised on the Guild web site and in the newsletters but not all these are ‘Guild’ events.