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said Mr. Forbes. "My objectives
A NEW CHAIRMANS OBJECTIVES
must acknowledge this fact". In a forthright and wide ranging address, the new Chairman said
For four days this January, thou-
"I will nail my colours to the
sands of the world's top buyers
mast", and outlined his objectives.
of Craft, Gift and Fashion will descend on the RDS in Dublin
•Complete, as quickly as
for the annual Showcase Dublin
possible, the review which is
exhibition, from January 16th to
currently underway and agree
19th. Apart from the usual mas-
this with the Council, and then
sive attendance from Ireland,
stage publicly the priorities,
buyers from France, Germany,
objectives and strategies of the
and presentation. Make the
the USA, the UK, Japan,
Crafts Council for the next three
Crafts Council seal of approval a
Canada and Italy, will be in
years.
sought after accolade.
undoubtedly be the biggest and
•Enhance and further develop
•Develop strong markets for our
most spectacular exhibition of
,RnsjAN. 16th. to 19th
I I
Mr. Cyril Forbes and Ms. Christine Ross.
attendance for what will
the training facilities which we
crafts people and their goods in
crafts, gifts and fashion ever
have, and work closely with all
the area of corporate gifts and
staged in Irebnd
training agencies to encourage
presentations especially when
and assist the training pro-
Irish representatives go abroad,
Speaking at the pre-fair media
grammes which they sponsor. I
be they Government, public or
launch of Showcase Dublin in
am not concerned whether we
private sector.
the CCI Gallery, the new
ourselves train, or other
Chairman of the Council, Mr.
agencies train, provided more
•Prepare a comprehensive and
Cyril Forbes, said that just as it
skilled people are available to
dedicated list of corporate buyers
is a great honour to be appoint-
the workforce or able to start
and target them to buy the
ed Chairman of the Crafts
their own business.
excellent goods which our crafts
Council, it is also a great
•Offer efficient skilled and dedi-
people must and can supply.
responsibility as in excess of six
cated personnel to respect, woo,
thousand jobs and over £40
advise and assist both buyers
• Encourage and support all
million pounds annually are
and crafts people.
wholesale and retail outlets of
earned from our thriving crafts industry.
Irish Crafts. •Use our influence to foster, encourage and assist any job
•Use our position to encourage
The Crafts Council comes under
creation enterprise. Create jobs.
and develop more and closer
the wing of the Minister for
•Insist upon and encourage
links with the crafts people and
Enterprise and Employment,
excellence in design, production
agencies of Northern Ireland so
J.
Continued from previous page
unparalleled opportunity to increase their sales, not just to the
'CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN QUILTS'7
that we can mutually prosper
domestic market but to overseas
from our combined efforts.
markets as well. Indeed, of the buyers who were in
diversity of quilt making in
Mr.Forbes concluded "It is going
attendance at Showcase Dublin in
America at the present time. It
to mean dedication,
1993, 46% came from
includes the work of quilt makers
concentration and hard work,
overseas while a staggering 16%
who have been influential from the revival of the craft in the
presents the strengths and
but with that I believe we can
of these came from the USA
create together more jobs and
alone. This in itself speaks vol-
1960's as well as younger of
more opportunities based on the
umes about the unique reputation
makers and artists.
excellence of our crafts, be they
Showcase Dublin has in the inter-
knitwear or furniture or
national marketplace.
The 41 works in this exhibition are
beautiful things, and this little
A successful outcome to
social issues of the 1990's. Quilt
country of ours, I look forward to
Showcase Dublin this year is vital
makers in the context of this exhi-
this job -1 look forward to this
if we are to sustain the momentum
bition, use the traditional tech-
challenge".
which has been generated over
niques of quilt making but widen
the past few years. Indeed, it is
the scope of the medium to create
likely that it will have a major
new and vibrant work conveying
Showcase Dublin offers both large
bearing on the review of the sec-
a wide diversity of statements and
and small Irish companies an
tor which is currently underway.
images.
anywhere in between. As I love
Now in its eighteenth year,
A NEW CHAIRMAN FOR THE CRAFTS COUNCIL
rich in imagery and chronicle
ensures an enormous enthusiasm for his new brief.
careers established as a result. Previously the emphasis was on young entrepreneurs of 25 years old
The Minister for Enterprise and
Ms. Ross pays tribute to the
Employment, Ruairi Quinn TD,
dedicated and distinguished
has confirmed the appointment
service given to the Crafts
of Cyril Forbes, Chairman and
Council by Dr. John McGuire,
Managing Director of the
Chief Executive of Rehab
corporate insurance brokers
Lotteries, as the outgoing
Kennedy Forbes, as Chair of
Chairman. "We very much
the Crafts Council of Ireland.
appreciate his contribution to
This has been warmly
the work of the Council during
welcomed by Christine Ross,
his term of office".
Council is now able to open it up to people of all ages. This course is particularly suited to those who have attained a few years work experience after graduation or through apprenticeship and who are eager to set up their own businesses. To this end the Crafts Council is running an open day at the Crescent on Friday 25th February, 1994 (11.00
Chief Executive of the Crafts Council.
and under. However, the Crafts
BUSINESS/DESIGN SKILLS COURSE UPDATE
a.m. - 6.00 p.m.). If you have any further questions on any aspect of the course please contact: Emer
Cyril Forbes brings considerable expertise in the financial
The Crafts Council of Ireland's
Ferran, Business/Design Skills
sector, allied to a long term
Business/Design Skills Course
Course Supervisor. To book a place
interest in the arts and crafts,
develops business and product
on the open-day please contact:
to the Council. This effective
development skills and has a very
Nuala McGrath. Both are based at
combination of interests
successful record of new craft
the Crescent Workshop.
Quilt making is also resurgent in
which paid tribute to the classic
Ireland, under the aegis of the
genre but also moved further
Irish Patchwork Society and the
away from its traditional base
Crafts Council hopes that by
than ever before. The workshop
bringing this inspirational
in February offers Irish quilt
the exhibition but there will be
exhibition to Ireland that it will
makers a unique opportunity to
none in the last week.
provide a meeting place where
work with her.
Admission to the performances
makers from America and Ireland can pool ideas.
Council Gallery. Performances are at 1 p.m. every Thursday, Friday and Saturday during
is £3 (£2 for concessions), the The second workshop with Susan Shie and James Acord is
The exhibition is originated by
two days long. Since 1989 they
the UK Crafts Council and Dublin
have collaborated on the "green
is the only non-British venue on
quilts" project. This has grown
exhibtion is free.
JEWELLERY CASTING WORKSHOPS IN KILKENNY - UPDATE
its tour. The scale of the
world wide to include over
exhibitiion required the Council
1,000 artists working with the
to site it at the RHA Gallery in Ely
concept of the artist as a healer.
The casting workshop taking
Place, where it opens on the
This workshop will concentrate
place on February 12th/13th at
25th January.
on the surface embellishment of
the Crescent Workshop was
narrative quilts.
booked out in the week it was
The Crafts Council acknowledges advertised with eight names
with thanks the assistance of the
Places are extremely limited, so
RHA, and the support of Delta
early booking is advised.
now on a reserve list. If we
Booking forms for both
receive another four applicants
workshops are available from
we will be able to run a second
Airlines and US Embassy.
EXCLUSIVE TEXTILE WORKSHOPS To further complement the
the Crafts Council. A series of
weekend workshop on
lectures on quilts will take place attheR.H.A. gallery:
March5th/6th. These workshops are aimed at people who
Contemporary American Quilts LECTURES
are already proficient in jew-
been organised.
7 p.m. at the RHA
ellery fabrication to a profes-
One is "Improvisations! Let's
Gallagher Gallery
sional level. Please forward
exhibition two workshops have
Experiment Workshop" with Nancy Crow (17th-20th February) and the other "Healing Quilts - Medicine Art" with Susan Shie and James Acord (5th - 6th March). The first of these is a four day workshop with Nancy Crow the initiator of the Quilt National Exhibition which has developed into the most
3 February Grania McElligott "Influences on Irish Quiltmakers" 10 February Valerie Wilson "The Historical Background of Irish Quilts" 17 February Nancy Crow "Contemporary Quiltmaker" 24 February Evelyn Montague "My Own Work"
in the USA.
Nancy recently attained the dis-
A multimedia exploration of
tinction of being the first quilt
Jewellery" is open to the pub-
She exhibited a series of quilts
Leslie Reed, Training and Education Officer at our Kilkenny offices.
The Crafts Council of Ireland
condolences and deepest sym"LIFE CYCLES -
at the American Craft Museum.
deposit to:
would like to extend its
prestigious exhibition for quilters
maker to be offered a solo show
your application with a £10
lic from January 14th February 26th in the Crafts
pathy to Mairead McAnallen on the recent death of her father, and to Emer Ferran for the sad and tragic loss of her brother.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
DESIGNyard
EC Trading:- Importers and
artistic development of lacemaking as a contemporary art
distributors of wooden gifts to some 300 gift shops the Benelux seek new articles to
form through the research of new materials, techniques and shapes. Selected works
Temple Bar opened recently with
add to existing lines. Anyone interested should contact:Mr. Elan Chachover
will be exhibited in Brussels at
gallery. The Design Yard
the Musee du Costume et de
initiated this exhibition with
la Dentelle (29th Sept. - 20th Nov,1994).
advice and guidance of Barbara
Director Walnootstreat 3552 GS Utreacht THE NETHERLANDS Tel. 31 (0)30-437902 Fax. 31 (0)30-434641 6TH INTERNATIONAL LACE BIENNIAL
The Applied Arts Centre at "The Art of Enamelling" Exhibition in the jewellery
Cartlidge. It runs until the 31 st January. Anyone seeking further
Closing date for application May 25th, 1994. For further information
Jackie Blackman, Jewellery
contact:-
Tel. 01-6778467.
Biennale Internationale
For further information on
information should contact:
Gallery Director,
any aspect of the Designyard
De La Dentelle
contact:
25th January - 5th March.
Art Contemporain
Under the patronage of HM Queen Fabiola of Belgium,
Musee du Costume
Administrator,
et de la Dentelle
Tel. 01-6778453,
Rue de la Violette 6
Fax. 01-6778482.
the International Lace Biennial - Contemporary Art is organising the 6th International Lace Biennial.
Cornelia McCarthy,
B. 1000 Brussels BELGIUM
The aim of the exhibition is to encourage and promote the
The Management Committee 1994
Crafts Council Staff
Chair Mr. Cyril Forbes
Dublin
Mr. Michael Feeney
Chief Executive
Ms. Suzanne May
Craft Development Officer
Mr. Michael McCrory
Administrative Officer
Mr. Rudolf Heltzel
Administrative Assistant
Dr. David Shaw-Smith
Gallery Administrator
Ms. Breda Haugh
Exhibitions Assistant
Ms. Angela Forte
Shop Assistant
The Crafts Council of Ireland Dublin Christine Ross
Sean O'Farrell Margaret Jones Catherine Jordan Mairead McAnallen
Powerscourt Townhouse Centre South William Street, Dublin 2 Tel.
0 1 6 7 9 7368
Fax.
016799197
Greg McAteer Siobhan Me Donald
Ms. Eveline Greif Mr. Brendan Flood
The Crescent Workshop
Ms. Hilary Pratt
Training and Education Officer
Leslie Reed
Ms. Maureen Cairnduff
Supervisor/Information Officer
Emer Ferran
Ms. Kaethe Burt-O'Dea
Administrative Assistant
Kilkenny
Nuala McGrath
Thomastown Pottery Skills Course Trainer
The Crescent Workshop, Castle Yard Kilkenny Tel.
056 61804 or 62734
Fax.
056 63754
Gus Mabelson Designed in the Crescent Workshop
Jewellery Design and Production Skills Course Trainer
by Daragh 6 Toole
Jane Huston
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 lth February 1994 and the print date is 22nd February 1994