Welcome. We are an educational charity, founded in 1871 by the Victorian art and social critic, John Ruskin, devoted to the arts, crafts and the rural economy. We have Companions (members) around the world who span a wide range of interests and expertise while sharing values and concerns that were so eloquently expressed by Ruskin and remain relevant today, perhaps best summed up in one of his most resonant statements, 'There is no wealth but life'. We encourage connection and collaboration between our members, and host and present events, collaborations and projects in the UK and internationally; we publish books which you can buy from our online bookshop. We own and hold in trust for the public benefit a 100 acre land-holding in the Wyre Forest, called Ruskin Land, and the Ruskin art collection in Sheffield, now cared for and displayed by Sheffield Museums. In 2020, the Guild, inspired in part by Ruskin's prescient understanding that industrial pollution was damaging the environment, joined Culture Declares in declaring a climate emergency.

Watch the beautiful short film 'No Wealth But Life?' which reflects on the Guild's recent projects in the Wyre Forest and in Sheffield.

 HERE

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Our founder, John Ruskin (1819-1900)

John Ruskin was a writer, art and social critic, artist and philanthropist. As an author he commanded international respect, attracting praise from figures as varied as Tolstoy, George Eliot, Proust and Gandhi and he was cited as an influence by Clement Attlee and the founders of the National Trust, among others.

He wrote on many things: art and architecture, nature and craftsmanship, literature and religion, political economy and social justice —a dizzying variety of subjects. He also worked tirelessly for a better society and his founding of the Guild of St George was one part of that endeavour.

The depth and range of his thinking, his often fierce critique of industrial society and its impact on both people and their environment, and his passionate advocacy of a sustainable relationship between people, craft and nature, remain as pertinent today as they were in his own lifetime.

Explore Ruskin’s ideas wherever you see these tags throughout the website Architecture Art Craftmanship Education History Nature Politics Religion Rural economy Social justice