J
U
e r
l e f t
news L
Y
/
A
U
G
U
S
T
9
9
5
CRAFTS COUNCIL
TRAINING COURSES SUCCESS We lead this issue with a synopsis of recent appraisals carried out on the Crafts Council's Jewellery Design & Production Skills Course and the Pottery Skills Course in Kilkenny. They make for very positive reading and clearly endorse the courses' content and structures. Both students and their respective industries can be encouraged by the success of these two courses to-date. The appraisals were carried out by members of the Council's Board but included key reviewers drawn from the relevant manufacturing sectors served by the courses.
JEWELLERY The success of the Jewellery Design and Production Skills Course can be demonstrated in a very tangible way by looking at employment statistics; further training; acceptance of graduates in workshops abroad and by the level of acceptance of the graduates' work in retail outlets. Of the group of twelve who graduated last year four are in permanent employment in the industry while two are in temporary employment; four have been accepted to the University of Ulster Second Year Jewellery Design Degree; one has been accepted to Edinburgh University for their Jewellery Design Degree and one has been accepted to the workshop of Froukje Idsardi in Holland as part of the EU's PETRA Programme. One of the students who is going on to the University of Ulster has just returned from a similar placement with Gerald Heinrich in Stuttgart. This placement was also made possible by PETRA assistance. This is a fine record only six months after the training was completed. These figures show a widespread acceptance of the standards of training on the course. Third level colleges here and in the UK are happy to accept the graduates, and work placements in Holland, Germany and the UK were secured
after the hosts had seen the standard of work produced. All of the foreign host manufacturers are highly complimentary of the level of skills displayed by the students. The Irish jewellery trade was initially sceptical of the course. However, having seen the standard of the training, the Federation of Irish Jewellers and the Jewellers and Metalworkers Guild have applauded the course and fully endorse its continuation. Congratulations to Jane Huston and all involved. STOP PRESS: The Crafts Council is pleased to announce that the Department of Enterprise and Employment has recently cleared the use of the Council's mainstream ESF support to fund the two year course. It will start on September 25th. Information and application forms can be obtained from Nuala McGrath in our Kilkenny office.
POTTERY The Pottery Course has a similar success story to relate. Now in its fifth year, the course has been renewed on an annual basis since 1990. In every year since the course started, employment offers for graduates pursuing employment in the craft have exceeded the numbers
graduating, which is why the recent course review cleared it for a further three intakes (1996-1998). The employment statistics since 1990 are as follows: Full-time pottery workers Own Pottery College Ceramic Course Other Career Currently unplaced
65% 11% 9% 6% 9%
Nine of the eleven participants who completed the course in 1994 are in full-time employment in Irish potteries. Already the Crafts Council are aware of eight probable job vacancies for the 94/95 cohort and it is extremely likely that there will be 100% placement for the group by September. Continued on following page
Training Course Success Continued from page 1. The standing of the course amongst commercial potteries is indicated by the offers made to trainees for work placements. In 1995 sixty one offers were made to thirteen trainees. Potteries all over the country contact Gus Mabelson, the training co-ordinator, as a matter of course to see if there are unplaced participants from previous years or " good prospects" coming through. The average net weekly wage is currently £109 one/two years after graduating rising to an average net of £ 143 per week between two to three years after the course. Given the average age and experience of the trainees this is well in line with industrial averages and shows that the trade clearly values the trainees.
In national terms the 30 full time workers (with wages estimated at 40% of unit cost) contribute a conservative £500,000 in extra wholesale turnover.
ADVANCED CAD/CAM TRAINING FOR KNITWEAR The Council's most recent course deals with the advanced technologies which knitwear designers must become familiar with, in a sector that has adapted new technologies more rapidly than any other. The course will be reviewed when it ends in September but we already know that three of the six knitwear designers who are in training have been offered jobs.
EXPLORING THE LATHE The "Exploring the Lathe" exhibition opened in the Crafts Council Gallery last month for a run of seven weeks. Gabrielle Williams of the Irish Times reviewed the exhibition very positively and described the lathe as a "technical performer of breath taking virtuosity" having seen the wide range of designs and materials on display.
Our picture below shows Derek McGarry, Dublin and Catherine Jordan, Exhibitions Assistant with an anodised aluminium egg cup designed by Derek which was on display at the exhibition.
WEDDING BELLS AND BABIES! Congratulations to Catherine Jordan, Exhibitions Assistant and Ger Murphy who will be on their honeymoon just about the time you see this. Best Wishes Catherine! Congratulations also to Emer Ferran, Crafts Council Supervisor in Kilkenny and Niall who are the proud parents of baby Niamh since May. Hurry back to the Newsletter Emer....we miss you! While we're on the gossip we believe Sean O'Farrell has been seen relaxing on the Dingle peninsula. Sean is doing just what he said he'd do and having a great time in retirement he even looks younger!
EUROVISION W I N FOR IRISH CRAFTS If you were amongst the 300 million people world-wide watching the Eurovision from the Point Depot in May you will have seen the magnificent trophy and case commissioned by the Crafts Council of Ireland. The trophy was designed and executed by silversmith Kevin O'Dwyer and glass blower Jim Griffiths and was accompanied by
• a presentation box designed by Michael McCrory of the University of Ulster.
CHRISTINE ROSS The Council said 'good bye' to Christine Ross at the end of April,
The 18 inch trophy, which was photographed and filmed by hundreds of foreign and local media, was made of polished silver and matt, acid finished glass, and was described by the team as a 'play on forms about movement and light'. The piece was futuristic and dramatic and will have captured a whole new audience for quality Irish craft. The Norwegian delegation certainly expressed an interest in commissioning smaller versions of the trophy for its members!! The project will certainly encourage corporate bodies to consider more creative commissioning for trophies, and the Council looks forward to passing many more opportunities on to the designer/makers on our Register.
ORGANIC SURFACES EXHIBITION Diary Note: The Organic Surfaces exhibition will open at the Gallery on July 6th running through to September 9th. Contact Greg McAteer or Catherine Jordan at 01 6 7 9 7 3 6 8 for details.
THE SILVER HEART This newsletter seems to have had quite a number of very positive stories this issue and here's another. Des Doyle from Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny graduated last year from the Crafts Council's Jewellery Design and Production Skills Course in Kilkenny. At the time he was awarded a special prize from AIB as "Best Improved Student". He went on, with the help of the EC PETRA programme, to an industrial placement with Gerald Heinrich and Ruth Sellack in Stuttgart. So pleased were they with the young jeweller's skills that they gave him both the time and materials to develop his creative skills instead of working full time for them!
when she resigned as Chief Executive, to pursue other interests. Christine joined the Crafts Council in March 1992, having worked in the craft and public art sectors in New Zealand and the UK. She brought with her a wealth of international experience in craft development which was instrumental in assisting the Crafts Council to achieve its present position. Major Council activity during her term of office included the introduction of the Jewellery Skills Training Course in Kilkenny in 1993 and the CAD/CAM Knitwear Design Course in Limerick in 1994; the mounting of major exhibitions such as 'Interiors' in 1993 and 'Contemporary American Quilts' in the RHA Gallery in 1994, and the continued success of 'Showcase'. The Chairman and Members of the Management Committee thank Christine for the good work she has done for the Crafts Council, and the Committee and staff wish her all good luck for the future. A new Chief Executive will be recruited shortly, and in the interim period Leslie Reed, Training and Education Officer, has been appointed Acting Chief Executive.
CRAFTS COUNCIL REVIEW The Crafts Council of Ireland is mounting a major policy review in September. The Council's intention is to create a strategic plan which will guide the development of the services it will offer the craft industry into the next century. The Council invites submissions from craftworkers, through their
member organisations, on areas of service that they wish to see added or improved. The deadline for submissions is the 31 st July. This will allow submissions to be included in policy outlines which will be prepared for the review during August. The Council is committed to improving its overall service to the craft industry, and looks to its member organisations to help us to develop policies that will build on the positive market expansion and growth of the industry over the past twenty five years.
The result is a collection of rings and other jewellery entitled "The Silver Heart" which the Crafts Council have been proud to showcase at the Gallery in Powerscourt recently. Des describes the Silver Heart collection as having diverse sources of inspiration from architecture to symbolic images such as the love heart. In October Des will take on a Degree Course in the University of Ulster and hopes in the long run to establish a jewellery studio. Congratulations are definitely due to Des, his tutors in the Jewellery Design and Production Skills Course, Kilkenny and PETRA for this very positive and upbeat news....
Our picture shows some of the Silver Heart collection which was on display at the Crafts Council Gallery.
& 0)
£ 0) w
§ o e e
8 &o
O
Royal Dublin Society 1995 EBS Crafts Competition
Further information and application forms are available by sending a self-addressed envelope (A5 size) to: POSTULATER, Sekretariat, Linnesgrade 20, DK-1361 Kjabenhavn K, Denmark. Tel:+4533152940 Fax: +4533152676
Competition and category awards sponsored by EBS Building Society. All entries must be delivered between Saturday 22nd July and Monday 24th July inclusive. For further information contact: Sinead O Duinnin, Arts Department Executive, Royal Dublin Society, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. Tel: 01 6680866.
International European exhibition of contemporary art, based on flexible components.
Crafts of the Future
This exhibition will be shown in Germany, Netherlands, Poland and England.
Craftspeople in Europe are invited to participate in a selected exhibition - Crafts of the Future. The exhibition will take place 1 st November - 1 st December 1996, Rundetarn, Copenhagen, Denmark. The aim of the exhibition is to show the vision craftspeople have about the crafts of the future. Selection will take place 11th - 12th November, 1995 and will be based on sketch projects. Registration deadline for selection is 15th October, 1995. The entry fee is DKK 200,-.
The Management Committee 1995 Chair Mr. Cyril Forbes Vice Chair Ms. Hilary Pratt Mr. Ed Kevin Ms. Suzanne May Mr. Michael McCrory Mr. Rudolf Heltzel Dr. David Shaw-Smith Ms. Breda Haugh Mr. Knut Klimmek Mr. David Hargaden Mr. Brendan Flood Mr. Neil Read Ms. Kaethe Burt-O'Dea Ms. Mary Jackson Ms. Bernadette Madden
Information and entry form: Nederlands Texielmuseum, Goirkestraat 96, 5046 GN Tilburg, Netherlands. Entry forms are to arrive at Tilburg no later than October, 1995.
Belfast City Arts Festival August 5th 1995.
Chamber of Trade and Commerce in the media both North and South. Limited amount of display space available. Stalls £60 each. Limited amount of work accepted on a sale or return basis. For further information contact Stephen Thompson, Belfast City Arts Festival, 8 1 , Wellington Park, Belfast, BT9 6DP, Tel. (01232)660719.
Artistic Feature/Public Artwork for Ballina Sewerage Scheme. Applications and submissions are invited from interested professional artists for the provision of a Public Artwork beside the recently constructed Ballina Sewerage Scheme site. The artwork to be provided will be selected by open competition with submissions being adjudicated on by a panel of assessors. Competition rules, project brief and further information may be obtained from the County Secretary, County Council Offices, Courthouse, Nenagh with whom submissions should be lodged not later than 12 noon on Friday, 28th July, 1995.
A one day Fair of quality arts and craft. This event will be held in and around Rosses Court and will be highly publicised by the Belfast
Crafts Council Staff
The Crafts Council of Ireland
Dublin
Dublin
Acting Chief Executive Administrative Officer Telephonist/Receptionist Exhibitions Assistant Retail Manager Shop Assistants (PT)
Leslie Reed Margaret Jones Orlagh McKay Susan Byrne/ Michelle French Catherine Jordan Hilary Morley Sally Dunne Aoife Montgomery
The Crescent Workshop Training and Education Officer Leslie Reed Supervisor/Information Officer Emer Ferran Administrative Assistant Nuala McGrath
Thomastown Pottery Skills Course Trainer Gus Mabelson
Powerscourt Townhouse Centre South William Street,
Dublin 2 Tel. 01679 7368 Fax. 01 679 9197
Kilkenny The Crescent Workshop, Castle Yard Kilkenny
Tel. 056 61 804 or 62734 Fax. 056 63754
Jewellery Design and Production Skills Course Trainer Jane Huston CAD/CAM Training for the Irish Knitwear Industry Coordinator Julie Griffiths
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 Nuala McGrath. The copy date for the next issue is 9th August. The Print date is 1 6th August