NEWSLETTER No. 4. October 1975 WORLD CRAFTS COUNCIL NEWS L o r d E c c l e s , Chairman o f t h e World C r a f t s C o u n c i l a d d r e s s e d t h e A s i a n Assembly o f t h e WCC i n Sydney l a s t May. Many o f the comments he made a r e r e l e v a n t t o I r e l a n d . ' Space does n o t p e r m i t r e p r o d u c t i o n i n f u l l o f h i s remarks b u t w i t h h i s ' p e r m i s s i o n we h i g h l i g h t p a r t i c u l a r l y p e r t i n e n t p o i n t s . R e f e r e n c e had been made t o t h e a g o n i s i n g c o m p e t i t i o n between machine and c r a f t i t e m s . "The f u t u r e o f c r a f t s l i e i n t h e d o m e s t i c market and n o t i n i n c r e a s e d s a l e s t o t o u r i s t s and overseas markets. V a r i o u s r e a s o n s were advanced ( a t t h e Assembly) f o r g i v i n g p r i o r i t y t o t h e home m a r k e t , a government can a c t d i r e c t l y on home demand; a government c a n e s t a b l i s h and s u b s i d i s e c r a f t shops and p u r c h a s e c r a f t work i t s e l f . On t h e o t h e r hand a government cannot c o n t r o l what t o u r i s t s buy or o v e r s e a s department s t o r e s c a n s e l l . Measures t o m a i n t a i n t h e volume and q u a l i t y o f t h e c r a f t s , i f t h e y a r e t o be permanent and e f f e c t i v e , must t h e r e f o r e be t a k e n w i t h i n t h e domestic market". " S e v e r a l s p e a k e r s s u g g e s t e d ways i n w h i c h t h e d o m e s t i c f o r t h e i r b e s t c r a f t s c o u l d be s t r e n g t h e n e d . " -
market
(i)
Governments s h o u l d be p e r s u a d e d t o make n a t i o n a l and l o c a l c o l l e c t i o n s o f both t r a d i t i o n a l and contemporary work.
(ii)
E x h i b i t i o n s s h o u l d be a r r a n g e d a t home and o v e r s e a s where t h e i r b e s t work c o u l d be s e e n .
(iii)
''The
The home market c o u l d be s t r e n g t h e n e d i f h e l p were g i v e n f o r t r a i n i n g c o u r s e s , t h e a c q u i s i t i o n o f raw m a t e r i a l s , the o r g a n i z a t i o n o f c r a f t c o o p e r a t i v e s e t c , . The s p e a k e r s ( a t t h e A s s e m b l y ) assumed t h a t i f t h e s e forms o f a i d were t o s u c c e e d on any s i g n i f i c a n t s c a l e t h e government c o n c e r n e d had. f i r s t t o be p e r s u a d e d t o g i v e t h e c r a f t s a h i g h e r p l a c e i n t h e i r s o c i a l and c u l t u r a l p o l i c i e s " .
o r g a n i z a t i o n of craftsmen
i n each
country"
"Craftsmen must j o i n t o g e t h e r i n o r d e r t h a t t h e i r v o i c e may be l i s t e n e d t o i n h i g h p l a c e s . T h i s means coming t o g e t h e r e i t h e r i n a s i n g l e n a t i o n a l body or i n t o a f e d e r a t i o n o f craft societies. C r a f t s m e n a r e by n a t u r e s o i n d e p e n d e n t t h a t i t r e q u i r e s t h e p r o s p e c t o f some b e n e f i t s and t h e l u b r i c a n t of a l i t t l e c a s h t o make them combine f o r a c t i o n . We cannot hope f o r many more Mrs. Webbs (founder and P r e s i d e n t of t h e WCC. Ed) Governments must now p r o v i d e t h e r e q u i s i t e push and inducement. In conclusion Lord E c c l e s s t r e s s e d the f o l l o w i n g : (a) (b)
(c) (d)
t h e i n t e r n a l market i s f a r more i m p o r t a n t t h a n t h e overseas market. t h e c r a f t s m e n who have s u r v i v e d or a r e going t o s u r v i v e i n d u s t r i a l i z a t i o n must be h e l p e d t o o r g a n i z e t h e m s e l v e s i n t o powerful bodies. governments must be p e r s u a d e d t o g i v e p o s i t i v e a s s i s t a n c e t o t h e i r i n t e r n a l m a r k e t s and t o t h e i r c r a f t o r g a n i z a t i o n s . UN a g e n c i e s and o t h e r g r a n t a i d i n g f o u n d a t i o n s must be a s k e d t o make " q u a l i t y and t r a d i t i o n " an e s s e n t i a l o b j e c t i v e of any c r a f t p r o j e c t w h i c h t h e y s p o n s o r " .
Editorial
comment
A t t h i s s t a g e i t s h o u l d be a s k e d how/^tne C r a f t s C o u n c i l o f I r e l a n d p e r f o r m e d a g a i n s t t h e c r i t e r i a s e t out above. I t has formed a N a t i o n a l C o u n c i l , p r o p e r l y c o n s t i t u t e d w i t h r e c o g n i t i o n by t h e World C r a f t s C o u n c i l a s t h e n a t i o n a l e n t i t y . I t has e n c o u r a g e d and a s s i s t e d t h e f o r m a t i o n of c r a f t o r g a n i z a t i o n s on a c o u n t y and r e g i o n a l b a s i s (two have formed t h i s y e a r and t h r e e more a r e on t h e w a y ) . I t h a s made r e p r e s e n t a t i o n t o t h e government and n e g o t i a t i o n s a r e a t an advanced l e v e l f o r t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a permanent s e c r e t a r i a t t o a c t a s a l i a i s o n s e r v i c e t o a s s o c i a t i o n s and i n d i v i d u a l c r a f t w o r k e r s and w i t h e x i s t i n g government a g e n c i e s . I t has a s s i s t e d i n the o r g a n i z a t i o n of e x h i b i t i o n s t h r o u g h i t s member s o c i e t i e s and p l a n s a r e advanced f o r an A l l I r e l a n d C r a f t s E x h i b i t i o n .
r
And t h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h i s n e w s l e t t e r h a s been an attempt t o s e r v e a s a communication l i n k between a l l i n t e r e s t e d societies. So a s t a r t h a s been made. Much needs t o be done and what w i l l be a c h i e v e d w i l l l a r g e l y depend on t h e t o t a l o f t h e e f f o r t s made b y d e d i c a t e d i n d i v i d u a l s . .REGIONAL NEWS KERRY The n e w l y formed K e r r y C r a f t w o r k e r s A s s o c i a t i o n h a s been b u s y and h a s f o r m u l a t e d a s e t o f R u l e s w h i c h were a c c e p t e d a t a G e n e r a l M e e t i n g on October 1 0 t h . One scheme which h a s been worked out w i l l , we t h i n k , be o f i n t e r e s t t o a l l C r a f t Associations. I t was i n f l u e n c e d by t h e f a c t t h a t i n K e r r y t h e r e a r e q u i t e a. number of hobby c r a f t w o r k e r s whom t h e Committee d i d n o t want t o e x c l u d e from the A s s o c i a t i o n . T h e r e f o r e t h e y a g r e e d t o have two c a t e g o r i e s o f membership; a s s o c i a t e and member. Anyone c a n j o i n a s an a s s o c i a t e a t a f e e o f ÂŁl p e r y e a r . Once e a c h y e a r t h e a s s o c i a t e may a p p l y f o r membership which may be g r a n t e d i f t h e a p p l i c a n t f u l f i l l s c e r t a i n requirements which are s p e c i f i e d . S u c c e s s f u l a p p l i c a n t s w i l l be i s s u e d w i t h a c a r d v a l i d f o r one y e a r . T h i s means t h a t t h e r e w i l l be a c o n t i n u i n g a s s e s s m e n t o f s t a n d a r d s and o n l y t h o s e who have r e a c h e d a s e t s t a n d a r d w i l l a t any time be members. I t i s hoped t h a t an e x h i b i t i o n w i l l be h e l d a n n u a l l y i n a s s o c i a t i o n w i t h t h e a d j u d i c a t i o n . For the r e c o r d t h e o f f i c i a l t i t l e of the Kerry A s s o c i a t i o n i s C e a r d Chumann C h i a r r a i . An a d m i r a b l e scheme: i t i s u n i v e r s a l l y acknowledged t h a t t h e most d i f f i c u l t t a s k o f any a s s o c i a t i o n i s t o s e t and m a i n t a i n standards. GALWAY The E x e c u t i v e o f t h e C r a f t s C o u n c i l o f I r e l a n d w i l l h o l d i t s December m e e t i n g i n Galway on Wednesday 3 r d . I t i s hoped t h a t a l l c r a f t w o r k e r s w i l l a t t e n d and w i l l t a k e t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o meet t h e E x e c u t i v e and d i s c u s s t h e p a r t i c u l a r problems r e l a t i n g t o that area. I t i s a l s o hoped t h a t t h i s m e e t i n g may l e a d t o t h e f o r m a t i o n o f a Galway C r a f t s A s s o c i a t i o n . F o r f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n on p l a c e and. time o f m e e t i n g p l e a s e contact:Mr. John L y n c h , County Development O f f i c e r , Hynes B u i l d i n g s , St, Augustine S t r e e t , Galway.
WEXFORD There a r e many i n t e r e s t i n g p l a n s emerging from the newly e s t a b l i s h e d Wexford A r t s C e n t r e . L e c t u r e s on c r a f t s w i l l t a k e p l a c e e a r l y i n the new y e a r . For f u r t h e r d e t a i l s contact:Mr. A P o t t e r , Director, Wexford A r t s C e n t r e , Wexford. THE
I R I S H GUILD OF WEAVERS, SPINNERS AND
DYERS
T h i s new g u i l d has j u s t been formed and has a membership of 15 ( a t time o f w r i t i n g ) . Meetings are h e l d bi-monthly a t the N a t i o n a l C o l l e g e of A r t and Design,- K i l d a r e S t r e e t , D u b l i n 2. (by k i n d p e r m i s s i o n o f the D i r e c t o r ) . New members a r e welcome. T h e r e i s an a n n u a l s u b s c r i p t i o n of ÂŁ2. The November m e e t i n g w i l l be g i v e n by K a r e n S i e r r a on V e g e t a b l e D y e s . F o r f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n c o n t a c t : Miss L i l l i a s M i t c h e l l , N a t i o n a l C o l l e g e o f A r t and D e s i g n , EXHIBITIONS F o r the World C o n g r e s s o f J u n i o r Chamber I n t e r n a t i o n a l s c h e d u l e d f o r Amsterdam, November 2-8, the D u b l i n J u n i o r Chamber a r e mounting an e x h i b i t i o n of I r i s h q u a l i t y goods. Many c r a f t w o r k e r s a r e r e p r e s e n t e d and we hope t h a t t h i s o p p o r t u n i t y t o e x h i b i t t o an i n t e r n a t i o n a l a u d i e n c e w i l l open many new m a r k e t s . OVERSEAS OPPORTUNITIES - SWAZILAND Mr. Wynand van Graan, E x e c u t i v e V i c e P r e s i d e n t of EDESA v i s i t e d I r e l a n d r e c e n t l y . EDESA i s a C o r p o r a t i o n f o r the development of E q u a t o r i a l and S o u t h e r n A f r i c a . I t s subsidiary PAN-AFRICAN HANDICRAFTS i s g i v i n g p r i o r i t y s t a t u s t o t h e development of h a n d c r a f t . The i n t e n t i o n i s t o s e l e c t t r a i n e d and e x p e r i e n c e d craftsmen from w h a t e v e r c o u n t r i e s t h e y a r e a v a i l a b l e and t o t a k e them t o A f r i c a on two or t h r e e y e a r c o n t r a c t s . They w i l l t h e n examine i n d i g e n o u s s k i l l s and c r a f t s and a s s i s t i n i m p r o v i n g them and t o i n t r o d u c e b e t t e r t e c h n i q u e s and t o t r a i n the p e o p l e i n new crafts. I n t h i s way a u n i q u e o r g a n i z a t i o n w i l l be c r e a t e d , b r i n g i n g t o A f r i c a the b e s t s k i l l s i n c r a f t s t h a t a r e a v a i l a b l e , and thus a s s i s t i n g t o overcome some of the problems o f p o v e r t y . A p i l o t scheme i s p r e s e n t l y under c o n s t r u c t i o n i n the E z u l w i n i v a l l e y i s S w a z i l a n d , where p r o v i s i o n i s made f o r the i n t r o d u c t i o n of c r a f t s s u c h a s p o t t e r y , weaving, g l a s s b l o w i n g , s i l k s c r e e n p r i n t i n g , b a t i k ? t i e dying, e t c , .
Anyone who may be i n t e r e s t e d i n t h i s Scheme s h o u l d , i n the f i r s t i n s t a n c e , c o n t a c t , Mary V. M u l l i n , K i l k e n n y D e s i g n Workshops, K i l k e n n y , T e l . 056-22118. TEXAS The Southwest C r a f t C e n t e r , a n o n - p r o f i t c r e a t i v e a r t s c h o o l i n San A n t o n i o , Texas i s p l a n n i n g a s e r i e s of workshops and s p e c i a l e v e n t s t h r o u g h o u t t h e summer of 1976 t o t i e i n w i t h t h e m e e t i n g o f t h e World C r a f t s C o u n c i l i n Mexico. They seek o u t s t a n d i n g c r a f t s m e n w o r k i n g i n any media who may be a t t e n d i n g t h e Mexico WCC M e e t i n g . I t i s anticipated that t e n i n d i v i d u a l s w i l l be s e l e c t e d from a v a r i e t y of c o u n t r i e s who c o u l d conduct workshops a t t h e Southwest C r a f t C e n t e r . The i n d i v i d u a l s s e l e c t e d s h o u l d have a w o r k i n g knowledge of the E n g l i s h language and be p r e p a r e d t o d e m o n s t r a t e t h e i r s p e c i a l techniques along w i t h working with a c t u a l p a r t i c i p a n t s . Workshops w i l l l a s t two or t h r e e days and w i l l be attended by a p p r o x i m a t e l y twenty t o t h i r t y p e o p l e from a l l over t h e United States . The Southwest C r a f t C e n t e r i s p r e p a r e d t o pay t h e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n c o s t s from Mexico C i t y t o San A n t o n i o and one hundred d o l l a r s towards t r a v e l w i t h i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , h o u s i n g and food f o r the c r a f t s m e n w h i l e i n San A n t o n i o and one hundred d o l l a r s p e r day f o r e a c h day t h e workshop i s c o n d u c t e d . Any c r a f t w o r k e r i n t e r e s t e d i n h a v i n g t h e i r name f o r w a r d e d f o r c o n s i d e r a t i o n s h o u l d c o n t a c t t h e Hon. S e c r e t a r y i m m e d i a t e l y . BOOKS Long w i n t e r e v e n i n g s may g i v e a l i t t l e more time f o r r e a d i n g . T h e r e i s an i n c r e a s i n g number o f b e a u t i f u l l y produced and p r a c t i c a l books r e l a t i n g t o c r a f t s b e i n g p u b l i s h e d . W i t h a l i t t l e encouragement I'm s u r e our e v e r b u s y and h e l p f u l c o u n t y l i b r a r i a n s c o u l d be p e r s u a d e d t o s t o c k a g r e a t e r range of c r a f t books. Here a r e some r e c e n t ones w h i c h have come t o our attention:THE ARTS AND CRAFTS MOVEMENT by G i l l i a n N a y l o r £4.80 208 pages (1971) f u l l y i l l u s t r a t e d i n c o l o u r . T h i s book t r a c e s t h e movement's h i s t o r y , i t s a m b i g u i t i e s , t h e o r i e s , s i g n i f i c a n c e and development. THE CAMERA AND THE CRAFTSMAN by t h e C r a f t s A d v i s o r y Committee £1.85 paperback 80 pages (1975) fully illustrated. The c a t a l o g u e of an e x h i b i t i o n w h i c h aims t o r e v e a l how a c r e a t i v e a r t i s t l i v e s and how o f t e n he u s e s h i s environment i n h i s work. SILVERSMITHING by R o b e r t Gooden and P h i l i p Popham £1.50 paperback 128 pages i l l u s t r a t e d (1971) Both a u t h o r s have t a u g h t a t t h e R o y a l C o l l e g e of A r t . T h i s book c o v e r s d e s i g n , m a t e r i a l s , t o o l s , and t e c h n i q u e s as w e l l a s a d v i s e on p r o f e s s i o n a l p r a c t i c e .
THE CRAFTS BUSINESS by Rosemary P e t t i t £1.95 ' p u b l i s h e d by P i t m a n . An i n t e r e s t i n g new paiperback - i t s main c o n c e r n i s w i t h making a l i v i n g a s a c r a f t s m e m . I tdeals with brass tacks i n s u r a n c e , f i n a n c e , t a x . I t has a l a r g e r e f e r e n c e s e c t i o n . L e g a l r e f e r e n c e s would, o f c o u r s e , d e a l w i t h U.K r u l i n g s on t a x , etc., b u t much o f t h e i n f o r m a t i o n i s v a l i d h e r e . We have r e c e i v e d a most i n t e r e s t i n g b o o k l e t from K„R. Drummond B o o k s e l l e r , 30, H a r t Grove, E a l i n g Common, London W5 3NB. We would l i k e to, publ i s h t h i s i n f u l l b u t it's n o t p o s s i b l e f o r s p a c e r e a s o n s . However, i t c a n be s e e n on a p p l i c a t i o n , a t t h e Hon. S e c r e t a r y ' s O f f i c e a t t h e R o y a l D u b l i n S o c i e t y or a t the L i b r a r y , K i l k e n n y D e s i g n Workshops. C o p i e s o f t h e l i s t s o f books a v a i l a b l e d e a l i n g w i t h A r t s and C r a f t s c a n be had from t h e above a d d r e s s by s e n d i n g one i n t e r n a t i o n a l stamp coupon (8p) w i t h your name and a d d r e s s . O l d and new books a r e l i s t e d and t h e c a t e g o r i e s under t h e c r a f t s and a r t s e c t i o n a r e : Art, B a s k e t r y , B o o k b i n d i n g , and books, C a l l i g r a p h y , C e r a m i c s , Cooker, Costume, C o u n t r y C r a f t s , D o l l s , D y e i n g and E m b r o i d e r y , F a b r i c P r i n t i n g , General, G l a s s , H o r t i c u l t u r e , L a c e , Leatherwork, Metalwork, Puppetry, S p i n n i n g , T a p e s t r y , B r a i d s , Rugweaving, Toys, T r a d e s and C r a f t s , Weaving, W i l d F l o w e r s , Woodwork.
We remind you t h a t t h i s n e w s l e t t e r i s p r i m a r i l y f o r and about the c r a f t w o r k e r i n I r e l a n d . I f i t i s t o succeed i n forging a comniunications c h a n n e l between t h e i n d i v i d u a l , t h e groups, c o o p e r a t i v e s and o r g a n i z a t i o n s w i t h a commitment t o c r a f t s and c r a f t w o r k e r s , then s i n g l y and c o l l e c t i v e l y you must send d e t a i l s of m e e t i n g s , e x h i b i t i o n s , or e v e n t s - q u e r i e s you may have - news o f c o u r s e s or e d u c a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s and c o m p e t i t i o n s t o : Hon. S e c r e t a r y , C r a f t s C o u n c i l o f I r e l a n d , c/o, R o y a l D u b l i n S o c i e t y , B a l l ' s B r i d g e , D u b l i n 4. Member o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e C C I w i l l r e c e i v e c o p i e s o f t h e n e w s l e t t e r f o r d i s t r i b u t i o n t o t h e i r members. I n d i v i d u a l s c a n r e q u e s t a d d i t i o n a l c o p i e s by s e n d i n g a stamped a d d r e s s e d e n v e l o p e to t h e above a d d r e s s . REMEMBER;
We c a n o n l y p u b l i c i s e what you t e l l u s i