A new permanent exhibition devoted to the history of craft in the West Midlands will open this weekend.
Craftsense, at Bilston Craft Gallery in Wolver-hampton, will introduce craft from its cottage industry beginnings in the 18th century to the present day, showcasing the region's treasures of the past alongside contemporary work.
It will be officially opened tomorrow by Henry Sandon, of BBC TV's Antiques Roadshow. Bilston is nationally and internationally recognised for its production of enamel wares from around 1740 to 1840, including decorated snuff boxes, patch boxes - to carry decorative patches used to hide small pox blemishes - and Bonbonnieres, for carrying candles designed to sweeten the breath. The exhibition will include paintings and photo-graphs, archive material, pattern books and objects in various stages of completion to allow visitors to see at first hand the skill and intricacy of the work.
New work is also being commissioned from contemporary craft markers.
Bilston Craft Gallery is the largest dedicated craft venue in the region, and also has a busy programme of temporary exhibitions featuring the best in contemporary ceramics, jewellery, textiles, woodwork and other media.
* Entry to Bilston Craft Gallery, Mount Pleasant, Bilston, is free. Opening hours: Tues-Fri, 10am-4pm; Sat, 11am-4pm.
Student art on display
Artwork by students from across the country has gone on display at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.
The 'National Exhibition of GCSE Art' includes work by pupils from city schools, including a collection of modern three-dimensional pieces by students from Swanshurst School in Kings Heath.
Fine art, graphic design, photography, textiles and three-dimensional design are also on dis-play, from some of the 88,000 students who were entered for the exam in June.
Coun John Alden, Cabinet Member for Culture, said: "The show should provide a source of inspiration to people of all ages." * The free exhibition will run until November 14.
