APPRENTICE
The applicant must be capable through examples of their work to demonstrate to the assessors a clear appreciation of the traditional skills involved in his or her chosen field and have studied both the techniques and history of their craft.
This accreditation may not be used to promote work for commercial benefit.

JOURNEYMAN
The applicant must be capable of producing work to a professional standard, showing the benefit of the study and practice expected of an “Apprentice” and the flair of an experienced practitioner.
A “Journeyman” will be expected to demonstrate with examples of their work the range of his or her skills and if trading, their ability to produce work at a commercially viable rate.
This accreditation may be used to promote work for commercial purposes.

SENIOR JOURNEYMAN
The applicant must be capable of producing work to a professional standard, showing the benefit of study and practice of a journeyman with the flair of an experienced practitioner at senior level.
A senior journeyman will be expected to show evidence of boat decoration and associated items, keeping a portfolio of work showing the full range of skills. They should have a sound knowledge and understanding of the origins and history of canal boat decoration and art.

MASTER
This accreditation is for practitioners meeting all the criteria of a Journeyman, with considerable experience in carrying out their skill, who show a high regard and feeling for the traditions of their craft and whose work set standards by which others may be judged.

CRAFTSMASTER
An Honorary accreditation that may be given at the discretion of the Guild’s Committee to senior practitioners whose work is a lasting inspiration to others.

GUIDANCE NOTES – SUBMITTING WORK FOR ACCREDITATION
1. Submissions must include all elements and aspects of work that applicants wish to have considered. (Traditional painting, for example, should include Roses, Castles, lining, scalloping etc. It is impossible to assess work where only some elements are offered). Often, especially in Giftware painting, these can all be applied to one or two items, preferably full size and canal related. It is not necessary to send in a large number of items.
2. When you wish to proceed with accreditation, please contact our Accreditation Secretary, Dave Moore on 01384 571204 or mobile 07831 243001 for details of how to proceed.
3. Return postage will be paid by the Guild. Do not forget to send your accreditation fee of £25 to Dave Moore at 20 Victoria Street, Brierley Hill, West Midlands DY5 1 RD.
4. Assessors make every effort to process applications promptly. Despite this, on occasion several weeks can elapse before work can be seen, sometimes longer. This is because the assessors are busy practicing professionals who fit this in at opportune moments. It is best to submit work that can safely be away for some time.
5. If you have further queries, please contact the Accreditation Secretary as above.

NOTES TO ACCOMPANY PAINTERS’ APPLICATIONS
SKILL CATEGORIES
Canal Boat Painter
Must have the full range of coach painting, decorative, graining and signwriting skills. Applicants should be able to start with bare steel/wood and work to completion.
Applicable to boat painters only.
Sign-Writer
Must be able to sign-write cabin sides in a variety of styles including script and scroll work.
Applicable to full size work only.
Decorative Painter
Must be able to apply roses, landscapes and all related motifs and subsidiary decoration inside and outside a boat.
Graining
Must be able to grain to a high standard all the expected areas of both traditional and modern canal boats.
Coach Painter
Must be able to prepare and paint the exterior upper works of a canal boat (wood or steel) including coach lining and appropriate detail to bulkheads, etc. all to a high professional standard. A detailed knowledge of appropriate materials is essential.
Giftware Painter
Should be able to apply “traditional” decoration to a range of small/miniature objects including some full size canal artifacts. The accreditors will look for a degree of dignity in the objects painted.

Please indicate the category/s for which you seek accreditation

ACCREDITATION FOR FENDERS AND ASSOCIATED ROPEWORK
APPRENTICE
To show a general knowledge of ropework and associated knots and hitches to form a side fender and small items of decorative ropework.
JOURNEYMAN
History: To have a brief knowledge of the craft of fender making and associated ropework with regard to the canal system.
Rope: Knowledge of types, uses, characters and constructions of rope used in the craft of fender making and associated ropework.
Fenders: Ability to construct various types of bow, stern and side fenders to a reasonable standard.
Decorative: To show a knowledge of decorative ropework and their uses.
MASTER
History: To show a wide knowledge of the history and development of fenders and ropework with regard to the canal system.
Rope: Knowledge of the types of rope construction, their uses, their strengths, weaknesses and individual characteristics.
Fenders: 1 To manufacture side, bow and stern fenders with the ability to adapt each type to individual requirements.
2 Show a wide knowledge of construction to a high standard at all times.
3 Knowledge of regional variations of different fender types.
Decorative: Cover all aspects of knots and ropework and have a wide knowledge of uses and history relating to the canal system.

ACCREDITATION OF CABIN CROCHET
APPRENTICE
1. Recognise the difference between crochet and other forms of lace.
2. Understand the particular characteristics of Cabin Lace as opposed to other forms of crochet-work. (That the boatwoman used relatively course cotton and made designs such as had been in 19th century domestic use to decorate their cabins.)
3. Be able to use the basic stitches of Treble & Chain to make the Blocks and Spaces of the simpler filet patterns.
4. Make a simple filet design either from a pattern, or from a sample (it’s worth bearing in mind that some Boatwomen – being excellent crocheters – cannot read a pattern).
5. They should be asked where they got the pattern from which they worked.
6. Produce a good even, reasonably firm fabric.
JOURNEYMAN
1. Show all the qualities of a good Apprentice (above).
2. Show that they have made a definite effort to discover the origins and traditions of Cabin Crochet (looked in museums, talked to other Cabin Crocheters).
3. Looked at museum collections and made at least one good copy of such a pattern.
4. Show ability to tackle more complex patterns and stitches, within the tradition of Cabin Crochet, (i.e. the “diagonal” patterns) from written patterns or from samples.
5. Be able to adapt patterns from ordinary domestic use to Cabin crochet, (i.e. by making a firm top edge through which curtain wire can be threaded).
MASTER
1. Show all the qualities of a good Apprentice and a good Journeyman (as above).
2. To have their own developing archive of patterns.
3. Be willing and able to write down or record patterns for others to share.
4. Be involved in the teaching of the work and its traditions to others.

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