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.
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hy 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 Art1 programme for the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham). Other initial thoughts
are to develop the Council's information services and to extend educational policies, particularly in schools and to look at the education and training needs of established craftspeople". The Council in conjunction with Craftworks hopes with European funding to run a 'Jewellery skills course'. The chief aim of the course will be to provide the trainees with a fluent range of production skills so that creative design will not be inhibited by technical limitations. "I shall be meeting with guilds and individuals to find out what the areas of concern are", Christine said. "There are always the difficulties of limited time and resources - the Council is, after all, a small organisation. But I hope we can be flexible and responsive to the needs of Irish craftspeople".
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1 homastown Pottery Skills Course
The Craft Council's Thomastown Pottery Skills Course is now in its second year, the first year having finished in June 1991 with eight of the final eleven students who completed the course now fully employed in potteries throughout Ireland. Throwing is the main technique taught on the course but the production of large hand built garden pots and hand made tiles are also covered. The workshop has a range of functional ware which all the students learn to make from small items such as egg cups to large storage jars and plates. During the course they work with raku and hard brick salt glaze kilns. In addition to this all the skills necessary in the running of a
commercial pottery such as, decorating, glazing, kiln packing and firing and general workshop maintenance are all learnt by the students.
The course is based in Thomastown and is housed in the Island Mill Craft School. It is very well equipped with the two main working areas on the first and second floors of the mill with a shop on the ground floor. Glazing, decorating and kiln rooms are situated across the courtyard in what were stables when the building was a working grain mill. Every student has his or her own wheel and workspace for the duration of the course and as a group they are jointly responsible for the cleaning and upkeep of he workshop. Usually by the last third of the course all students will have reached a high enough standard to enable them to sell their own work through the shop. Prior to finishing the course a series of work placements are arranged whereby each student will spend at least a week working in a pottery workshop. Application is open to anyone interested in pursuing pottery production as a career and although previous experience of working on the wheel is not necessary applicants should have a genuine enthusiasm for working with clay.
e Crescent Workshop The Crescent Workshop is situated in the stable yard of the historic Kilkenny Castle, formerly the Kilkenny Design Workshop. The Business/Design Skills Course located there will be commencing its fourth year in September. This course is funded by the Crafts Council of Ireland and the European Social Fund. The course supports the transition from art college or apprenticeship to independent professional workshops. This far the course has aided some eighty two young craftworkers and designers to set up in business. These have ranged from tufted rugs, printed and woven textiles to jewellery in both precious and non-precious metals. Ceramics is also significant with producers of both batch and once off pieces. Over the past few years new disciplines have been introduced. This year it was knitting and leather. It is hoped that the next course commencing in September will cover further disciplines such as furniture making. Each participant has their own workspace and the course covers many facets of business culminating in the composition of a business plan for submission to state agencies and financial institutions. These craftworkers have access to state of the art equipment in their discipline and advanced computer and computer aided facilities. Forms are available from: Enter Ferran Course Supervisor The Crafts Council of Ireland Business/Design Skills Course The Crescent Workshop Castle Yard Kilkenny Closing Dale: Friday 22 May 1992
Irish Jewellers Depart for Canada Fourteen designer jewellers from both North and South of Ireland have flown out to Canada in the past few weeks to take part in a unique business development programme. (This venture has been funded by the International Fund for Ireland and coordinated by Craftworks, the Northern Crafts development agency)
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The venture is part of the Wider Horizons scheme, promoting cross border links. The project provides an ideal platform for the exchange of ideas and skills between participants and their hosts. The participants are placed for 6 weeks in design workshops throughout Canada including Toronto, Vancouver and Nova Scotia. Whilst in Canada the jewellers will have the opportunity to explore a whole new market for their products.
'»««V**&«I«M>' Calendar of Events
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Crafts Council of Ireland HQ Birgit Laken • Metal in Motion 30 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 contemporary and modern patchwork, plus examples of woodturning, furniture and sculptural wood pieces. Tel 028 22090
Summer Events and Courses Weaving Summer Course 20 April - 30 August 1992 (weekly) Fees £200 per week, £100 for students For further information contact: Colm or Teresa Sweeney, Carrickatleave, Adara, Co. Donegal Tel 075 41100
Courses in Violin Making 6 - 17 July and 2 0 - 3 1 July 1992 Directed 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 School 6 - 17 July Pottery 6 - 17 July Weaving 20 - 31 July Art Metalwork 20-31 July Batik A 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 event to 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 Society Crafts 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
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Glass Gold, Silver & Other Metals; Blacksmithing
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Jewellery a) Precious Metals; b) Alternative Materials Wood a) Woodcarving <fe Sculpture; b) Woodturning Musical Instruments
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Rod, Rush & Straw
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Leather
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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
International Craft Competition Open to clay, glass, jewellery, wood, metalwork, paper and furniture. Applications to: International Arts Horizons, Craft Department CR 140, Prospect Avenue, Suite 16R, Hackersack, WJ 07601, U.SA. Tel 210 646 0222 Fax 210343 5353 Closing date for entries 29 May 1992
European Ceramics Work Centre (E.K.W.C.) The inauguration is scheduled for July 1992. EKWC is open to artists looking for the opportunity to work with clay. Admission is for a 3-month period which can be extended to one year. Studios are rent-free and there is a Dft 500 a month working budget towards the cost of materials and findings. For further information contact: EKWC Attn. Yvette Larduois, Zuid-Willemsvaart 215,5211 SG's-Heryogenbosch, Netherlands. Tel +31 (0) 73 124500
Premier Jewellery & Gift Fair
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 and additional 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. 207 Closing date 27 June 1992
30 August -1 September at the Burlington Hotel, Dublin. Cost: Shell Scheme Stands ÂŁ95 per square metre & VAT, to include divider walls, name panel, carpet and spotlight.(ÂŁ20 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 outlay Please 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
The Management
rafts Council Staff
Committee 1992
HQ
Chief Executive Christine Ross Craft Development Officer Sean O'Farrell Receptionist/Typist Clare Brennan Administrative Officer Margaret Jones Gallery Administrator Margaret Me Anallen Exhibitions Assistant Greg McAteer Gallery Assistants Deirdre Barry Niamh Barry
Chair Dr. John McGuire Vice Chair Ms. Mel Bradley Mr. Kevin O'Dwyer Mr. Michael Feeney Mr. Fionntan Gogarty Mr. Barry Hurley Mr. Michael McCrory Mr. Rudolf Heltzel Mr. David Shaw-Smith Mr. Liam O'Neill Ms. Angela Forte Ms. Eveline Greif
The Crescent Workshop Education and Training Officer Leslie Reed Supervisor/Information Officer Emer Ferran Administrative Assistant Nuala McGrath Thomastown Pottery Skills Course Trainer Gus Mabelson
The Crafts Council of Ireland Designed in the Crescent Workshop by Mairead Brennan
Kilkenny The Crescent Workshop Castle Yard Kilkenny Tel 056 61804 or 62734 Fax 056 63754
Dublin HQ Gallery Powerscourt Townhouse Centre South William Street, Dublin 2 Tel 01 679 7383 or 679 7368
Fax 01 679 9197