The makers of a new TV series to be fronted by Monty Don and looking at contemporary building crafts is still seeking someone to learn stonemasonry.
The programme is being made by a company called Ricochet for the channel More4.
The idea of the programme is to take some enthusiasts in various crafts and give them professional training. The training will involve making a piece of work that will be judged. The person who makes the best piece will have the opportunity to take up the craft full time – so the programme could be life changing for someone.
Dominique Belcourt, a researcher for the programme, told NSS: “We are looking for the country’s most gifted amateur craftspeople to take part in a unique programme to hone their skills and become masters of their crafts.
“They will be mentored by some of the UK’s top professionals from a variety of disciplines as apprentices on an intensive training scheme.
“The crafts we aim to feature are metalwork, pottery, stonemasonry, weaving, glass and cabinetmaking.
“At the end of each training period the apprentices will have the opportunity to create a final piece, which will be judged by the leading craftsmen and women in these fields. One apprentice will be claimed the best and will hopefully get the opportunity to turn their passion into a career.”
While following the trainees, the programme will take the opportunity to celebrate and focus on traditional and contemporary crafts.
The call for people to take part in the programme has been extensively publicised.
In the stone sector, the announcement has appeared in the Stone Federation newsletter, was sent to companies, colleges and other training bodies and was posted on this magazine’s website.
Dominique says there have been plenty of enquiries from would-be stonemasons but the makers of the programme have not yet found all three of the people they think would be the right choices to take part in the programme.
So if you know someone who is an enthusiastic amateur stonemason who is just itching for the opportunity to further their craft with expert tuition, and who would not mind appearing on television occasionally with Monty Don while they undergo that training, you might like to pass on the invitation from Ricochet to contact them. You can call them on 01273 224837 or email [email protected].