About Design & Crafts Council Ireland

Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) is the national agency for the commercial development of Irish designers and makers, stimulating innovation, championing design thinking and informing Government policy. Our activities are funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) – Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI) until July 2020 – through Enterprise Ireland.

DCCI provides practical supports to emerging and established designers and craftspeople through a range of programmes and services. We aim to: — raise the standard and profile of this sector, both in Ireland and internationally; — develop commerce potential, and grow exports; — invest in the progression of the next generation of craftspeople through education initiatives; — advocate for the integration of design in Government policy and industry, and the development of Ireland’s design infrastructure. The total economic output of craft enterprises in Ireland is valued at €498 million, of which exports are €125 million1 . Furthermore, exports of Engineering, Design, Architectural Design and Specialised Design are valued at more than €1 billion per year2 .

As at 31 December 2020, DCCI has 57 member organisations and 3,204 registered client enterprises. This represents an increase of 101 registered clients since 2019. Our Team DCCI’s Executive Team is responsible and accountable for the leadership and day to day management and operation of the organisation. The team acts within the approved policies of DCCI’s Board and is consistent with the priorities of its clients. The Executive Team comprises the CEO and heads of departments. The heads of departments report directly to the CEO and provide regular updates to the DCCI Board on the work of the organisation. The CEO reports to the Chair and the Board of DCCI.

DCCI’s office and the National Design & Craft Gallery are located in the Castle Yard, Kilkenny with 23 full time employees. The Centres of Excellence are located in Kilkenny (Jewellery & Goldsmithing) and Grennan Mill, Thomastown (Ceramics).

1. Indecon Economic Consultants, ‘Economic

Significance and Potential of the Crafts Industry in Ireland’, 2010. 2. Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI), ‘Policy Framework For Design in Enterprise in Ireland’, 2016.