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SHOWCASE '95 TO EXCEED ALL OTHER YEARS SHOWCASE DUBLIN '95, the 19th Irish craft, gift and fashion trade fair, which will open in the RDS this month is set to exceed the success of previous years according to the Fair organisers. All of the available space at the RDS has been sold with over 550 exhibitors, including a strong representation from Northern Ireland, fully occupying the whole of the exhibition complex. Over 1,000 overseas buyers, coming from 22 countries, are expected to attend following diligent promotion by An Bord
Mr. Ruairi Quinn, T.D. the new Minister of Finance, pictured with Christine Ross, Chief
Trachtala in the US, Canada,
Executive, and Cyril Forbes, Chairman, Crafts Council of Ireland at Showcase '94.
Japan and Europe's major
If this year's SHOWCASE does
Ireland's most talented and
markets in Germany, France and
exceed past years then there are
creative craftspeople are
Italy. In addition, An Bord
grounds for great optimism
exhibiting work which has been
Trachtala and the organisers,
amongst exhibitors given that a
recognised by the Crafts Council
Eurofairs Ltd, have targetted
survey of exhibitors in 1994
of Ireland for its high quality and
both specialist and mainstream
revealed a total sales figure of
design content.
UK buyers.
ÂŁ18.6 million. These orders have resulted in a total of 697 jobs,
The Crafts Council of Ireland wish
Over 7,000 Irish and international
121 of them full-time, 108 part-
all those exhibiting at, or visiting,
buyers attended this event last
time and 468 as out-workers.
SHOWCASE DUBLIN '95 a very
year.
The Fair as usual will include the
prosperous New Year!
Craft Village where 100 of
I
Crafts Council Exhibitions
CHRISTMAS GIFT EXHIBITION OPENS
Despite it being one of the most eventful weeks in the history of Irish politics, Mr. Ruairi Quinn, TD, fulfilled his promise to officially open the Crafts Council's Christmas Gifts Exhibition at the Gallery in Powerscourt Townhouse at the end of November.
handmade buttons by Patricia Clyne-Kelly of Wicklow proved particularly popular and there was much praise for the stunning silver candlesticks, priced at over £900, by Kevin O'Dwyer of Dublin. Also for sale were hand painted handkerchiefs, prints, pottery, porcelain and exotic occasional jewellery made of feathers and precious stones by Nicole Lewanowski from Wexford.
sales results from the Exhibition were not known, but given that these have improved every year and that those who have been shopping at the Exhibition have voiced their appreciation of the items on display, it is to be expected that the 1994 Christmas Gifts Exhibition will prove profitable for all those involved. Opening Soon at the Crafts Council Gallery.... THE LANGUAGE OF WOOD -
As is always the case with this particular "exhibition, the The Exhibition, emphasis was on which was open selling, selling, selling until Christmas Eve, "Men Drinking Guinness" and there was truly included the work by Brian Buckley something at the of over 100 Exhibition to suit everyone's taste craftspeople some of whom, such and pocket. A large proportion of as Cormac Boydell, a ceramicist the items on display were in the from Beara in Co. Cork, exhibit £5 to £15 price bracket, yet there exclusively at the Gallery. Also on were gift ideas for the discerning display were a set of swinging oak costing up to £1,000. garden chairs made from recycled whiskey vats by Brian Quill of At the time of going to press, the Dublin. Of the smaller gift items,
Crafts in Wood from Finland
13th January - 25th February THE POTTER'S CHOICE
7th March - 29th April An exhibition based on the private collections of potters in Ireland EXPLORING THE LATHE (Working Title)
9th May - 24th June An exhibition of the work of invited makers working in different media, whose common ground is the use of the lathe.
BUSINESS AFTER HOURS AT THE
number of workshop leaders will
CRAFTS COUNCIL GALLERY
deal with different themes during the week, under the guidance and direction of the English
Over 150 business people attended a reception in the Crafts Council
designer/weaver, Ann Sutton. The
Gallery in Powerscourt Townhouse
week of workshops will be
Centre in early December as guests
followed by a weekend
of the Crafts Council.
conference on the theme of
The event, entitled "Business After
Jordan at the Dublin office for
marketing rugs. Contact Catherine Hilary Morley, Retail Manager at The Business after Hours meeting.
more information.
the Dublin Chamber of Commerce.
WORKSHOPS FOR PROFESSIONAL
MAIREAD MCANALLEN DEPARTS
The benefits to the Crafts Council
RUG MAKERS
Hours", was one of the networking events organised by
included an opportunity to
Mairead joined the Crafts Council
promote the Christmas Gifts
At the end of March, the Crafts
in 1986 as Administration Officer,
Exhibition to a target audience
Council will direct a week long
a position which she held until
and an opportunity to remind
series of workshops examining the
1988. With the move to the
them of the Crafts Council's
rug in its contemporary context,
Powerscourt Townhouse Centre
speciality in corporate gifts and
and looking at specific problems of
and the opening of the Council's
presentations for all occasions.
designing for the modern floor. A
Gallery, Mairead found her true
niche as Gallery Administrator. In
restricted to textiles, was taken
Exhibitions Assistant.
subsequent years she was
over by Mairead who broadened it
responsible for many valuable and
to a multi-media project. Over the
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S CLUB
successful exhibitions in the Gallery
years she made this workshop,
In October, Christine Ross
and a great many crafts people are
which charted new territory for
addressed a meeting of the
in her debt for the way in which
the Craft's Council, into an exciting
International Women's Club in
she helped them in developing
and stimulating experience for
Dublin, about the work of the
their work.
those who took part in it. For this
Council. The Club is a meeting
and all the other innovative ideas
place for women of all
Many would feel however, that
Mairead brought to the Craft
nationalities, including those who
her most rewarding work was her
Sector, we say 'Thank You'.
are here professionally and those
involvement with the Burren
accompanying partners on
Workshop. This workshop, started
Catherine Jordan has been
by Frank Sutton and initially
appointed to the position of
| YOUNG JEWELLERS GRADUATE Even RTE television news turned up to mark the occasion of the Graduation of twelve jewellery trainees from the Jewellery Design and Production Skills Course in Kilkenny in November. Both RTE and the national newspapers who reported on the occasion highlighted the fact that one third of the twelve students already had job offers in the jewellery trade and the remainder are planning further training at University level and in manufacturing firms. These are the first students to complete this two year course, which was set up in 1992 by the Crafts Council at the Crescent Workshop. The graduates, who come from all over the 32 counties and even the UK, trained both in design and technical production. Under the keen eye of Course Trainer, Jane Huston, the graduates studied gemmology; making moulds; casting metals; hand making of settings; polishing techniques; workshop safety and specific subjects such as enamelling and engraving. The students have also been encouraged to develop a commercial attitude in addition to their craftsmanship.
business.
AIB contributed sponsorship to the course which the Council decided would be used to provide jewellery tool sets for each of the students. The students took the sets with them on graduating. "These tool sets are most appropriate for our graduates in that they are receiving 'the rod as opposed to the fish' and they can use them to continue to develop their skills and careers", said Cyril Forbes who presented the students with their certificates. The objective of the course was, and is, to create real, lasting employment based on high standards of training. While it is only a start, and the students have further training to complete, the twelve graduates from Kilkenny will no doubt be an asset to any company while they continue to gain experience and skills. The graduates were: Berina Kelly, Galway; Una McDonnell, Tyrone; Gilbert Henry, Sligo; Maria Lindsay, Belfast; Neil I Kelly, Kilkenny; Des Doyle, Kilkenny; Margaret Rutter, Wicklow; Eddie Dawson, Dublin; Ciaran Breen, Dublin; Brian Martin, Wexford; Caroline Bennett, Cornwall (UK) and Seliena Coyle, Derry.
Pictured from left to right: Caroline Bennett, Una McDonnell and Selina Coyle at work in the Craft Council's Crescent Workshop, Cas Yard, Kilkenny
The Graduation ceremony was followed in the afternoon by an exhibition of the students work which was attended by representatives from the jewellery trade and local people. During the full-time jewellery course there has been opportunity to share the facility with the trade whilst the workshop has been empty. Anybody requiring further information on the Jewellery Design and Production Skills Course in Kilkenny should contact Jane Huston at 056-61804. It is hoped to repeat the course in the new year. This course was funded by Interreg in its first year and by NOVA for the second year of the programme.
[O
CONTRIBUTIONS WELCOME
like to see covered in forthcoming issues, please let us
^
The New Year's resolution of the
know so that the newsletter can
L ^ team who put together this
become of increasing interest to
^
its readers.
newsletter is that they intend to
•^>> have to do as little as possible in PUBLIC RELATIONS
^T"
By that they mean that the I newsletter, which is, after all, for
The Management Committee is
New Craft Village at Dun Geagan, Co. Kerry, seeks sales assistant's. For further details please contactJohn A. Connolly, Project Manager, Cill Rialaig Project, Ballinskelligs, Co. Kerry. Tel. (066) 79297 Fax. (066) 79324
pleased to announce the
S
craftspeople, needs
appointment of Wilson Hartnell
Esker Riada, Ballycrissane,
Uj
articles/suggestions/letters by our
Public Relations as PR consultants
Portumna, interpretive centre
to the Crafts Council. The Crafts
resident artists arcade planned for
L^j readers.
Council account is being handled
1995. Interested artists should
So here's your challenge for 1995.
by Mary Finan, Managing Director
apply to:-
If you or your colleagues have
and Martina Byrne, Senior
received a large or unusual
Account Executive.
Adrian Cummins, Project Manager,
commission, why don't you let us know. If you take exception to
WHPR have put together an
something which has been
intensive programme of public
covered in a newsletter - why
relations activity for the coming
don't you let us know. If you'd
months and we wish them every
like to tell the editorial team how
success in their endeavours to
wonderful they are - why don't
assist the marketing strategy of
you let us know. And if there are
the Council.
Esker Riada, Ballycrissane, Portumna, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway. Tel. (0905) 75205 Fax. (0905) 75247
issues or topics which you would
The Management Committee 1994 Chair Mr. Cyril Forbes Wee Chair Ms. Hilary Pratt Mr. Tom O'Connor Ms. Suzanne May Mr. Michael McCrory Mr. Rudolf Heltzel Dr. David Shaw-Smith Ms. Breda Haugh Ms. Knut Klimmek Mr. David Hargaden Mr. Brendan Flood Mr. Neil Read Ms. Kaethe Burt-O'Dea
Crafts Council Staff
The Crafts Council of Ireland
Dublin Chief Executive Craft Development Officer Administrative Officer Administrative Assistant Telephonist/Receptionist Gallery Administrator Exhibitions Assistant Retail Manager Shop Assistant (PT)
Dublin Christine Ross Sean O'Farrell Margaret Jones Vacant Michelle French Mairead McAnallen Catherine Jordan Hilary Morley Sally Dunne
The Crescent Workshop Training and Education Officer Supervisor/Information Officer Administrative Assistant
South William Street, Dublin 2 Tel.
01 679 7368
Fax.
01679 9197
Kilkenny Leslie Reed Emer Ferran Nuala McGrath
Ms. Mary Jackson Ms. Bernadette Madden
Powerscourt Townhouse Centre
Thomastown Pottery Skills Course Trainer Gus Mabelson
The Crescent Workshop, Castle Yard Kilkenny
Tel. 056 61804 or 62734 Fax. 056 63754
Jewellery Design and Production Skills Course Trainer
Jane Huston
CAD/CAM Training for the Irish Knitwear Industry Coordinator
Julie Griffith
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 information to Emer FerranThe copy date for the next issue is 3rd February. The Print date is 17th February