The Crafts Council, the national development agency for contemporary craft in the United Kingdom, originated as the Crafts Advisory Committee in 1971. Tasked with promoting craft and advising the Minister for the Arts, David Eccles, it quickly made its mark by publishing the Crafts journal and holding its first major exhibition, The Craftsman's Art, at the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1973.

Renamed the Crafts Council in 1979 and granted a Royal Charter in 1982, it gained independence and expanded its influence, moving to dedicated premises in London's Pentonville Road in 1991 which included a gallery and reference library. In 2006, it strategically shifted its focus from on-site facilities to extensive regional partnership work, aiming to broaden its reach across the UK. This approach proved successful, with its 40th-anniversary year in 2011 seeing hundreds of thousands of visitors to exhibitions and thousands participating in craft fairs and nationwide initiatives.

Today, primarily funded by Arts Council England, the Crafts Council continues to champion contemporary craft through touring exhibitions, professional development, and learning programs, supporting artists and engaging the public nationwide.