The HQ Gallery was opened in 1988 and is dedicated to showing the best of Irish and International craftwork as part of the Council's education policy. It represents a statement by the Council that from this point forward, promotion of high quality craftsmanship and personal creativity and the search for productive markets must go hand in hand with education. Issue no.l
The Crafts Council of Ireland Issue no.l The Crafts Council of Ireland is the State organisation with the responsibility for crafts. In its efforts to improve standards and the livelihood of craftworkers, the Council has involved itself actively in educational, artistic and cultural fields and in finding a broader range of markets and promoting crafts more widely at home and abroad. The Council initiates .and organises an annual crafts trade fair, workshops and exhibitions, it runs a centre for the business training of young graduates in craft disciplines, publishes this Newsletter and encourages work to develop crafts regionally, through its member guilds and associations. In the furthering of these activities relationships have grown with the Trade Board, FAS, ESF, and of course the Industrial Development Authority. The four main teaching institutions of art and design are now active members and colleagues of the Council. The HQ Gallery was opened in 1988 and is dedicated to showing the best of Irish and International craftwork as part of the Council's education policy. It represents a statement by the Council that from this point forward, promotion of high quality craftsmanship and personal creativity and the search for productive markets must go hand in hand with education. why a Newsletter? This Newsletter replaces the Craft Review and will be published six times a year. The objective is to aid and stimulate the flow of information amongst craftworkers and between craftworkers and the Crafts Council. It will cover various facets of craft including, workshops, exhibitions, scholarships, European developments in craft, equipment sales and social events. We are taking the opportunity of this first issue to highlight the Council's activities, but in later issues the focus will change as we find out what the readers want. Whether it is a forthcoming event or a comment you would like to voice, please send it in. We would like to thank those who sent information and would like to let you know that you provided the foundation. Those relating to July/August have been held over for the next issue. IN ew Chief Executive In March the Council bade farewell to Terry Kelly, who had been Chief Executive for five years and who is now pursuing a new career as a craft consultant. Many tributes were paid to her tremendous achievements in building up the Council's status and activities. The new Chief Executive is Christine Ross. She was Executive Director of the Crafts Council of New Zealand from 1980 - 84, and since then has worked in England; firstly with South West Arts as Visual Arts and Crafts Officer and lately in London as a craft and public art consultant. Christine, who is Irish-born, said: "I am looking forward immensely to working for the Crafts Council of Ireland. The organisation is in excellent shape, with major activities such as 'Showcase Dublin', the gallery the Crescent Workshops and Thomastown courses well established and successful. With this base to work from, I shall be discussing a new programme of activity with the Board and the staff. It is early days yet and future issues of the Newsletter will keep readers informed of new Council policies and projects. Christine is particularly interested in developing the market for commissioned craftwork, both in corporate gift-giving and in public and private sector architecture. (She established the 'Percentage for Art 1 programme for the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham). Other initial thoughts
Transcript
The Crafts Council of IrelandIssue no.l
The Crafts Council of Ireland is the State organisation with the responsibility for crafts. In its efforts toimprove standards and the livelihood of craftworkers, the Council has involved itself actively in educational,artistic and cultural fields and in finding a broader range of markets and promoting crafts more widely athome and abroad. The Council initiates .and organises an annual crafts trade fair, workshops and exhibitions,it runs a centre for the business training of young graduates in craft disciplines, publishes this Newsletter andencourages work to develop crafts regionally, through its member guilds and associations. In the furthering ofthese activities relationships have grown with the Trade Board, FAS, ESF, and of course the IndustrialDevelopment Authority. The four main teaching institutions of art and design are now active members andcolleagues of the Council.
The HQ Gallery was opened in 1988 and is dedicated to showing the best of Irish and International craftworkas part of the Council's education policy. It represents a statement by the Council that from this pointforward, promotion of high quality craftsmanship and personal creativity and the search for productivemarkets must go hand in hand with education.
why a Newsletter?This Newsletter replaces the Craft Review and will bepublished six times a year. The objective is to aid andstimulate the flow of information amongstcraftworkers and between craftworkers and the CraftsCouncil. It will cover various facets of craft including,workshops, exhibitions, scholarships, Europeandevelopments in craft, equipment sales and socialevents. We are taking the opportunity of this first issueto highlight the Council's activities, but in later issuesthe focus will change as we find out what the readerswant. Whether it is a forthcoming event or a commentyou would like to voice, please send it in.
We would like to thank those who sent informationand would like to let you know that you provided thefoundation. Those relating to July/August have beenheld over for the next issue.
IN ew Chief ExecutiveIn March the Council bade farewell to Terry Kelly,who had been Chief Executive for five years and whois now pursuing a new career as a craft consultant.Many tributes were paid to her tremendousachievements in building up the Council's status andactivities. The new Chief Executive is Christine Ross.She was Executive Director of the Crafts Council ofNew Zealand from 1980 - 84, and since then hasworked in England; firstly with South West Arts asVisual Arts and Crafts Officer and lately in London asa craft and public art consultant.
Christine, who is Irish-born, said: "I am lookingforward immensely to working for the Crafts Councilof Ireland. The organisation is in excellent shape, withmajor activities such as 'Showcase Dublin', the gallerythe Crescent Workshops and Thomastown courseswell established and successful. With this base towork from, I shall be discussing a new programme ofactivity with the Board and the staff. It is early daysyet and future issues of the Newsletter will keepreaders informed of new Council policies andprojects.
Christine is particularly interested in developing themarket for commissioned craftwork, both incorporate gift-giving and in public and private sectorarchitecture. (She established the 'Percentage forArt1 programme for the London Borough ofHammersmith and Fulham). Other initial thoughts
are to develop the Council's information servicesand to extend educational policies, particularly inschools and to look at the education and trainingneeds of established craftspeople". The Council inconjunction with Craftworks hopes with Europeanfunding to run a 'Jewellery skills course'. The chiefaim of the course will be to provide the trainees witha fluent range of production skills so that creativedesign will not be inhibited by technical limitations.
"I shall be meeting with guilds and individuals tofind out what the areas of concern are", Christinesaid. "There are always the difficulties of limitedtime and resources - the Council is, after all, a smallorganisation. But I hope we can be flexible andresponsive to the needs of Irish craftspeople".
\p 1 homastown PotterySkills Course
The Craft Council's Thomastown Pottery SkillsCourse is now in its second year, the first yearhaving finished in June 1991 with eight of the finaleleven students who completed the course now fullyemployed in potteries throughout Ireland. Throwingis the main technique taught on the course but theproduction of large hand built garden pots and handmade tiles are also covered. The workshop has arange of functional ware which all the students learnto make from small items such as egg cups to largestorage jars and plates. During the course they workwith raku and hard brick salt glaze kilns. In additionto this all the skills necessary in the running of a
commercial pottery such as, decorating, glazing,kiln packing and firing and general workshopmaintenance are all learnt by the students.
The course is based in Thomastown and is housed inthe Island Mill Craft School. It is very wellequipped with the two main working areas on thefirst and second floors of the mill with a shop on theground floor. Glazing, decorating and kiln rooms aresituated across the courtyard in what were stableswhen the building was a working grain mill. Everystudent has his or her own wheel and workspace forthe duration of the course and as a group they arejointly responsible for the cleaning and upkeep of heworkshop. Usually by the last third of the course allstudents will have reached a high enough standard toenable them to sell their own work through the shop.Prior to finishing the course a series of workplacements are arranged whereby each student willspend at least a week working in a potteryworkshop. Application is open to anyone interestedin pursuing pottery production as a career andalthough previous experience of working on thewheel is not necessary applicants should have agenuine enthusiasm for working with clay.
e Crescent WorkshopThe Crescent Workshop is situated in the stable yardof the historic Kilkenny Castle, formerly theKilkenny Design Workshop. The Business/DesignSkills Course located there will be commencing itsfourth year in September. This course is funded bythe Crafts Council of Ireland and the EuropeanSocial Fund. The course supports the transition fromart college or apprenticeship to independentprofessional workshops. This far the course hasaided some eighty two young craftworkers anddesigners to set up in business. These have rangedfrom tufted rugs, printed and woven textiles tojewellery in both precious and non-precious metals.Ceramics is also significant with producers of bothbatch and once off pieces. Over the past few yearsnew disciplines have been introduced. This year itwas knitting and leather. It is hoped that the nextcourse commencing in September will cover furtherdisciplines such as furniture making. Eachparticipant has their own workspace and the coursecovers many facets of business culminating in thecomposition of a business plan for submission tostate agencies and financial institutions. Thesecraftworkers have access to state of the artequipment in their discipline and advancedcomputer and computer aided facilities.
Forms are available from:Enter FerranCourse SupervisorThe Crafts Council of IrelandBusiness/Design Skills CourseThe Crescent WorkshopCastle YardKilkennyClosing Dale: Friday 22 May 1992
Irish Jewellers Departfor Canada
Fourteen designer jewellers from both North andSouth of Ireland have flown out to Canada in thepast few weeks to take part in a unique businessdevelopment programme. (This venture has beenfunded by the International Fund for Ireland and co-ordinated by Craftworks, the Northern Craftsdevelopment agency)
The venture is part of the Wider Horizons scheme,promoting cross border links. The project providesan ideal platform for the exchange of ideas andskills between participants and their hosts. Theparticipants are placed for 6 weeks in designworkshops throughout Canada including Toronto,Vancouver and Nova Scotia. Whilst in Canada thejewellers will have the opportunity to explore awhole new market for their products.
1 M'»««V**&«I«M>' Calendar of Events (QMHfl
Crafts Council of Ireland HQ
Birgit Laken • Metal in Motion30 April - 30 May
Birgit Laken is a Dutch jeweller who uses the Mokume technique.Much of the inspiration for this work came from the Burren,which she visited as leader of a Crafts Council Workshop.
'Bright Young Things'4 June - 4 July
An exhibition by recently established makers including a number
who have worked at the Crescent Workshop.
'Contemporary Craft 1992'26 J u n e - 1 7 July
At the West Cork Arts Centre, Skibbereen, Co. Cork.Includes the work of 24 craftspeople and includes contemporaryand modern patchwork, plus examples of woodturning, furnitureand sculptural wood pieces.Tel 028 22090
Summer Events and Courses
Weaving Summer Course20 April - 30 August 1992 (weekly)Fees £200 per week, £100 for studentsFor further information contact:Colm or Teresa Sweeney,Carrickatleave, Adara, Co. DonegalTel 075 41100
Courses in Violin Making
6 - 17 July and 20-31 July 1992Directed by William D. Patterson BA. Ten places are available.Cost £150 per session. A £50 deposit is payable in advance.For further information and application contact:
William D. Patterson,
Crawford College of Art and Design,
Sharman Crawford Street, Cork.Tel 021 966777
Closing date for applications 1 June 1992
Grennan Mill Craft School6- 17 July Pottery6- 17 July Weaving20 - 31 July Art Metalwork20-31 July BatikA series of two week courses at the Grennan Mill Craft School.Applications to:Mr. George Vaughan, Director,Grennan Mill Craft School, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny.
Tel 056 24557
European Youth Expo (E.Y.E.)A showcase for young artists and photographers. A 2-day eventto be held in London at the end of 1992.For further information contact:
Kate Southworth or Stephanie Rushton,18 Shepherd's Hill, Highgate, London, W6 5AQ.
(Please enclose SA.E.)
RDS 1992 EBS Building SocietyCrafts Competition & Exhibition
The exhibition will be housed again this year in the successful
Crafts Village in the Industries Hall of the Society during the
Horse Show, 14 - 18 July 1992. There are sixteen different
categories of crafts as follows:
1 Ceramics a) Functional; b) Decorative & Architectural
2 Glass
3 Gold, Silver & Other Metals; Blacksmithing
4 Jewellery a) Precious Metals; b) Alternative Materials
5 Wood a) Woodcarving <fe Sculpture; b) Woodturning
6 Musical Instruments
7 Rod, Rush & Straw
8 Leather
9 Furniture
10 Knitting a) Hand knitting; b) Machine knitting
11 Weaving a) Handweaving for Fashion!Furnishings;
b) Tapestry
12 Printed Textiles
13 Patchwork & Quilting a) Traditional; b) Experimental
14 Embroidery a) Traditional; b) New Techniques
15 Lace a) Limerick; b) Carrickmacross; c) Irish Crochet
d) Bobbin; e) Other Techniques
16 Calligraphy & Lettering
The class prize fund is sponsored by EBS Building Society andadditional special awards are also being presented.
Entry forms, and brochures from:Eveline Greif Arts Administrator,Royal Dublin Society, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.Tel 01 680645, ext. 207Closing date 27 June 1992
International Craft Competition
Open to clay, glass, jewellery, wood, metalwork, paper and
furniture.
Applications to:International Arts Horizons, Craft Department CR 140, Prospect
The inauguration is scheduled for July 1992. EKWC is open toartists looking for the opportunity to work with clay. Admissionis for a 3-month period which can be extended to one year.Studios are rent-free and there is a Dft 500 a month workingbudget towards the cost of materials and findings.For further information contact:EKWC Attn. Yvette Larduois,
30 August -1 September at the Burlington Hotel, Dublin.
Cost: Shell Scheme Stands £95 per square metre & VAT, to
include divider walls, name panel, carpet and spotlight.(£20
discount per square metre for space only, carpeted, entirely
unfitted)
Contact: Maureen Ledwith,6 Sandyford Office Park, Dublin 18.
Tel 01 954911 Fax 957417
All information is published in good faith but without research, so please check carefully before committing yourself to work or financial outlayPlease forward all further information to Emer Ferran
The copy date for the next issue is 1 June and the print date is 15 June 1992
rafts Council Staff
HQ
Christine Ross
Sean O'Farrell
Clare Brennan
Margaret Jones
Chief Executive
Craft Development Officer
Receptionist/Typist
Administrative Officer
Gallery Administrator Margaret Me AnallenExhibitions Assistant Greg McAteer
Gallery Assistants Deirdre BarryNiamh Barry
The Crescent WorkshopEducation and Training Officer Leslie Reed
