CCI-newsletter-1977-6-January

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LTD. Thomas Prior House, Merrion Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 Telephone 01 680764

GOVERNMENT GRANT The Minister for Industry and Commerce, Mr Justin Keating, announced on 11 March last a grant of £24,000 a year to the Crafts Council of Ireland. The Minister in making the announcement said that he was aware that the Council was hampered by lack of funds and that financial assistance was necessary " i f they are to do effectively the work they have set themselves". The fund will be used to establish the permanent office for the Crafts Council with an Executive Officer who will assist the individual craftworker in the areas of raw materials, production and marketing, and who will act as a liaison between craftworker and government offices, state agencies, educational authorities,

Crafts Council nowa Company Since the announcement on 11 March last by the Minister for Industry and Commerce of a grant to the Crafts Council at the rate of £24,000 per annum to set up a permanent secretariat manned by an Executive Officer and secretary assistant, the Council has been going through the lengthy process of forming itself into a Company Limited by Guarantee in order to be in a psoition to accept the grant.

This process was completed on 21 September 1976 when the new company, Crafts Council of Ireland Limited was incorporated.

The registered offices and new secretariat will be at Thomas Prior House, Merrion Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 which is beside the Royal Dublin Society's premises. The offices, of the Council, which will house a small library, records of craftworkers and their works and a

marketing agencies and buyers. An index of craftworkers and their work will be established.

This significant and exciting milestone in the history of craftwork in Ireland is the culmination of five years tireless work by the Executive Committee and the Board of the Council. The Council has been able to arrive at this stage of development only because of the invaluable assistance given them since its establishment by the Royal Dublin Society who placed their premises and staff at the disposal of the Council. The Council gratefully acknowledges its debt to the Society and looks forward to continued association in the years to come.

wide selection of information for and about craftworkers will be open from the middle of January. Correspondence can be addressed as from now to the new address and the telephone will be operative as from the opening date.

Executive Officer appointed Mr E. F. Sutton has been appointed Executive Officer to the Council and Secretary to the Management Committee (the company Board).

He took up duty on 1 October.

Mr Sutton was one of the original CTT staff, serving in their offices in Dublin, New York and London. Subsequently he spent a number of years in industry, specifically in production and develop­ ment and was among the original sponsors and active founders, with craftworkers, of the Crafts Council of Ireland.

All Ireland Crafts Exhibition 1976 The All Ireland Crafts Exhibition 1976 opened at the Ulster Museum in Belfast on 30 September and at the Hugh Lane Municipal Gallery in Dublin on 11 November, before distinguished gather­ ings.

The Ulster Museum which was responsible for the design and mounting of the exhibition both in the Museum in Belfast and in the Dublin gallery provided a distinctive setting for the works of the 26 craftworkers chosen by the international jury.

The exhibition, which closed on 5 December, was seen by 4,500 visitors to the Hugh Lane gallery.

The basis for the exhibition was an open invitation issued early in 1976 to all Irish craftworkers to submit up to three works for an exhibition which would place contemporary crafts in Ireland in an international context.

The volume and standard of the response was generally disappointing. The international jury, Erika Billeter, Archie Brennan and Mo Jupp worked long hours during one of the hottest weekends in the summer to select what they felt filled the terms of their brief and out of 256 entries, which was itself a disappointing number, they finally selected pieces by 26 craftworkers.

The exhibition sub-committee had hoped for a larger exhibition but accepted the jury's deicision, and in fact the success of the exhibition is of great satisfaction, in particular the public interest which must reflect in a heightened awareness of the sort of standard which is to be aimed at.

Crafts Council Award This new award takes the form of a silver medal to be struck annually and presented for work of singular merit at the Royal Dublin Society's annual National Crafts Competition.

The medal was designed by Peter Donovan the Kilkenny silversmith and carries a relief design depicting elements basic to the majority of craft skills — fire and water. Super-imposed on this is a hand, symbolising the human element, holding a worked flint representing the earliest form of skilled craft. This design is surrounded by a pierced border

Crafts Council ADDITIONAL MEMBERS The Management Committee of the Crafts Council has increased its numbers from 11 to 15, and the additional seats have been allocated to the regional associations to ensure participation of craftworkers in the management of the Council.

With one place reserved for Northern Ireland, the remaining were given to Cork, Kerry and Clare.

carrying the words Feabas Ceardaiocta (Excellence of craftsmanship). The reverse of the medal carries the wording 'The Crafts Council of Ireland Award'.

It was presented to the Chairman of the Royal Dublin Society's Executive Committee, Mr James Meenan, in recognition of the Society's assistance to the Crafts Council in its formation and development.

The first craftworker to win this award was Teresa F. Bradley, first prize winner in the lace section in the 1976 National Crafts Competition.

Courses Patricia Howard has organised pottery classes for beginners. Friday evenings between 7.30 pm and 9.30 pm at 6 Camden Place, Cork. £1.25 per person per session.

On Saturdays there are sessions for children between 10.00 am and 11.00 am and between 11.00 am and noon.

British Craft Awards The Telegraph Sunday Magazine has just announced the British Grafts Awards Scheme. It is intendea that all crafts will be covered in rotation over the next few years. Each award will be a prize of £500.

The 1977 awards will be in Bookbinding, Functional Pottery, Jewellery and Woven Textiles. The scheme is open to all professional craftsworkers as well as final year students attending a full time course.

Slides and completed entry forms by 31 March 1977.

Details from Crafts Council of Ireland.

Craft Rim The film "In Praise of Hands" which was made for the 1974 World Crafts Council Conference in Toronto and which deals with many basic skills in craftsmanship in the various continents is now available for showing from the Canadian Embassy, St. Stephens Green, Dublin. The film is 16mm colour and sound.

Destruction at Ulster Museum The Ulster Museum's entire collection of costumes and textiles, as well as paintings and Irish furniture, was completely lost when Malone House was destroyed by a fire resulting from the present troubles in Belfast.

Included in the loss of our cultural heritage which is irreparable, was the linen damask collection, one of the best in the world, as well as the very comprehensive lace collection and that of both Irish and foreign embroidery in which were rare specimens..

The museum has had many generous offers of help already and an appeal will be made shortly explaining what is now wanted and what has already been given.

Members of the various organisations of the Crafts Council should consider ways in which at least some of the destroyed items might be replaced — possibly through knowing of examples or duplicates still intact in private hands.

In the meantime, Miss E. McCrum at the Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens, Belfast BT9 (Telephone 084 668251) is dealing with enquiries.

WORLD CRAFTS COUNCIL The biennial meeting of the World Crafts Council took place in Oaxtepec, Mexico between July 6 and 13 and was attended by some 1,100 delegates representing 58 member countries, including Ireland. The meeting was officially opened by the President of Mexico, Senor Echeverria who was introduced to the delegates by the President of the WCC - Lord Eccles.

The tremendous amount of hard work by the Mexican Organising Committee over the four years prior to the Conference was reflected in all events. Craft workers from every corner of this fascinating country were present to demonstrate traditional skills. Colleagues from Europe, Asia, Africa and North America worked . alongside them and it's quite certain that never before has there been such a variety of traditional international talent in one small area. The official delegates who had to attend the Continental Assemblies which held marathon meetings - one European session lasting almost four hours - envied the other conferees who could spend this time squatting under the great canvas awnings, which provided a little shade from the hot sun, watching, talking and learning about skills, which if one was to travel to see would take a lifetime and a small fortune.

The World Crafts Council, is going through a period of change - it must look anew at its role and its relevance. The incoming Directorate requested a year to draw up a new constitution and financial structure.

A difficult but essential task if it is to remain a valid organisation in the last quarter of the 20th century. The conditions under which the craftworkers say, in Northern Europe or North America operate differ greatly from those prevailing in developing countries but all require some form of guidance and assistance in an age of inexorable technical and industrial advance. In many ways they are the ones who give visual and social identity to a country and must be allowed a climate for continuance. We wish the Directors well in their very difficult task and know they will be aided considerably by the Professor Ake* Huldt (until recently Rektpr of the Konstfackskolan in Stockholm,) whose appointment as Secretary General from September 15 last was announced at the General Assembly. We look forward to the new era.

ME«MAIL

MEM

IRISH GUILD OF WEAVERS SPINNERS AND DYERS

CRAFT GUILD PARTICIPATES IN GUARANTEED IRISH CAMPAIGN

The Guild continues to hold regular meetings in Dublin and is growing in interest and activity. For those who wish to contribute or participate in its work or just attend the interesting series of lectures which have included — "Irish Textiles" by Lillias Mitchell, "Copperplate Printing on linen and cotton 1750-1810" by Ada Leesh, held under its auspices, contact Miss Lillias Mitchell, c/o National College of Art and Design, Kildare Street, Dublin 2.

Cork Craftsmans Guild will participate in the Irish Goods Council Guaranteed Irish campaign. This was recently agreed by memOers ot the Guild who could see the obvious advantages to them not only in being able to utilise the labels to identify their products as Irish crafts in shops when often the public is not aware of which is an Irish and which an imported craft, but also in their own shop in Cork where, in fact, all products can carry the Guaranteed Irish Label and can benefit in the total effect of the national campaign.

KERRY CRAFTWORKERS ASSOCIATION A very successful seminar was organised by the Kerry Craftworkers Association in Tralee on 3 December. This day long meeting was fully attended by profession­ al craftworkers and others and the whole range of services to the craftworker from State, semi-state and local government bodies as well as retailers was covered by the various speakers and fully debated in the discussions afterwards. This enterprise on the part of the Kerry Craftworkers Association is to be commended not only for the high level at which it was pitched and the first class organisation but also for bringing the craftworker directly into the picture so that the exchanges were at a comparable level and the craftworker could be seen as a full partner in the community of interests.

Among the speakers were Mr Paul Hogan of CTT, Mr E. O'Mahony, County Development Officer, Mr M. Maye, Gaeltarra Eireann, MrT. Moriarty, Regional Manager, A.I.B., Mr E. F. Sutton, Craft Council of Ireland, Mr Brian Covington, Mr M. Latchford, Mrs B. Crushell, all retailers, Mr L. Mulcahy Potter Miss B. Reddin of Board Failte, Mr S. McDwyer, C.E.O. and Mr E. Myers of the Kerry Craftworkers Association.

This opportunity is open to other Crafts guilds and associations who are prepared to meet the required qualifications and as a guild are prepared to pay the fee of £2 per member with a minimum fee of £25.

Details from the Executive Officer, Crafts Council of Ireland.

COURSE IN WOOL SPINNING AT SLIEVEBAWN Slievebawn Cooperative Handcraft Market, assisted by the Roscommon Educational Committee has recently sponsored a course in spinning for its members. Eighteen members have participated in this course which was conducted by a traditional spinner.

PRESERVING OLD SKILLS Comharchumann Chois Fharraige is developing a scheme in close conjunction with the Gal way Regional Technical College for a Chois Fharraige Crafts Centre which it is hoped to have completed early in 1977. The first aim will be Concerned with the conservation of "craft skills" in the area and the second will be the introduction of new skills into the area. A lot of the work is still at the planning stage.

Displaysfortourists Tourist Offices in many counties have offered display space in windows or cases for local crafts of a high standard.

Naturally the facilities vary from district to district and depend on suitability of premises etc. If you would like to avail of this excellent opportunity to show your crafts to a wider audience please contact the indefatigueable Blanaid Reddin at Bord Failte, Upper Stephen Street, Dublin 2.

DONEGAL A very successful meeting of craftworkers was organised by Guy Stephenson of the Regional Technical College in Letterkenny on 10 November. In addition to the craftworkers and other interested, members of the Crafts Council Manage­ ment Committee were also present.

At a subsequent meeting of the craftworkers early in December the matter was taken a stage further and it is likely that a new member of the Crafts Council may be announced in the new year.

SLIGO A meeting of craftsworkers from the Sligo, North Mayo and North Leitrim area was held in the Regional Technical College in Sligo on 9 November. After a showing of the fijm "In Praise of Hands" there was a general discussion in which a number of members of the Management Committee of the Crafts Council spoke on on the aims of the Council and answered questions. The craftworkers present resolved to hold another meeting to explore the formation of a craftworkers association or guild for the region Mr John O'Leary of the Regional Technical College agreed to act as convenor in the initial stages.

Exhibitions WEXFORD CLARE CRAFTWORKERS ASSOCIATION There are now 28 craftworkers in the Association and regular meetings are held.

John Connolly is Chairman, John Costello acts as Secretary.

The Wexford Craftworkers Association has been formally accepted as a member of the Crafts Council. The association, which has 15 members at present has as chairman Mr Thomas O'Rourke and Mrs Betty Craig is Honorary Secretary and Treasurer.

Country Markets, Irish Countrywomans Association, and Bord Failte have co-operated in mounting craft exhibitions as part of a RURAL LIVING programme, the purpose of which is the promotion of individual well-being in a regional context. Exhibitions have been held in the Regional Colleges in Galway, Cork, Letterkenny, and Carlow.

Musical Instruments MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MAKING COURSE A course in making musical instruments has been initiated by the Regional Technical College in Cork. The organiser of the course is Miss Bridget Doolan, Principal of the School of Music there and the Tutor for the course is Mr William Patterson. Mr Patterson who is from the U.S.A. has trained in Cremona and has been working for some time in England where he has been selling the instruments he has produced to The Instrument Shop in Bradford which has a very high standard.

In this initial year there are eight students taking the course — chosen from sixteen applicants. Eight is the maximum number which can be accommodated at present and they will be producing various string instruments and the aim is to have 8—10 finished instruments by the time the course ends in June.

Aid in the provision of tools and materials was forthcoming from the Arts Council.

One of the heartening aspects of the initial development was that it was found possible to use native wood.

HARP MANUFACTURE Colm Maher, Guitarist with the Finion Kenny group is running a one man operation making harps in Templeogue Harpist Deirdre O'Callaghan was one of Colm's first customers and she has been using the harp which he made for some months and has commented very favourably on the high quality both of tone and finish.

International Competition for Tapestry Designs Cepelia Cooperative Union of Folk Arts and Crafts in Poland are organisers of an international competition for designs to be made into tapestries. Closing date for entries is 30 May 1977.

First, second and third prize winners will receive medals, diplomas and bonuses of 40,000, 30,000, and 15,000 zlotys respectively, (these cash bonuses can only be spent in Poland.

The jury will be an international one and the aim is to acquire designs on a high artistic level which will be used to produce tapestries as well as to obtain the broadest possible review of the latest and the world's most significant art conceptions.

Kilkenny Shop in Dublin The Minister for Industry and Commerce, Mr Justin Keating T.D. opened the new Kilkenny Shop in the Setanta Centre in Nassau Street in Dublin on 16th of December.

The shop, which is in the prestige shop­ ping area of Dublin, stocks not only the best in craft based industry production for which the Design Workshops have produced the designs, but also will have a selection of very high quality hand-crafted products from craftworkers all over Ireland.

A feature of the new shop will be a coffee bar and an area where specialised exhibitions can be mounted.

Details from the Executive Officer, Crafts Council, Dublin.

Ceramic, Glass and Decorative Articles Fair A National and International Design Competition is being organised in connection with this fair. The purpose of the competition is the selection of items made in ceramic or glass or of which ceramic or glass is a basic component of any kind and which fulfills functional usefulness as well as artistic merit.

Any designer, artist or craftsworker may take part and the awards include trophies and two main prizes of 100.000 pesetas. Final date for registration is 28 February 1977, and final date for submissions of items is 10 March 1977.

Details and forms from Crafts Council of Ireland.

New Secretary General for World Crafts Council Mr James Plaut has retired from the post of Secretary General of the World Crafts Council and his place has been taken by the very distinguished Swede, Ake Huldt.

Professor Huldt was Rektor of the Konsfackskolan in Stockholm until the. time of his appointment. He has been closely associated with Irish projects; was one of the authors of the Design Ireland report produced by the Scandinavian team in 1961 and has been a member of the Standards Advisory Panel of Kilkenny Design Workshops.

PUBLICATIONS GUIDE TO LOCATION AND PURCHASING OF CRAFTS IN IRELAND

American Crafts Council sponsors lecture tours offoreignartists In response to increasing American interest in foreign crafts and crafts­ people the American Crafts Council has instituted its Visiting Artist Lecture Programme.

Under the programme, ACC sponsors tht U.S. lecture tours of several prominent foreign artisits each year. While on tour, each artist visits a nationwide sampling of colleges, universities and art centres where they present lectures, conduct workshops, and participate in seminars and conferences.

For each tour ACC coordinates the complete lecture tour itinerary for the artist. This includes all arrangements for domestic travel and housing as well as publicity. All domestic travel, housing and lecture fees are paid directly to the artist by ACC. Artists provide their own international fares.

Eligible are professional craftsworkers.

For further information apply to the Executive Officer, Crafts Council of Ireland.

This small booklet is intended to act mainly as a guide to visitors to I reland in their search for craft products and in the location of craftshops and studios. It is in colour and includes lists of shops and studios and location maps. It is available at all tourist offices at a cost of 15p.

Some craftworkers who may have wished to be included may find their names missing — this is probably becaused they failed to complete forms sent to them

by Bord Failte or because they are new to an area. A revised edition will be printed next January so if you wish to be included in the new issue please contact Miss Blanaid Reddin, at Bord Failte, Upper Stephen Street, Dublin 2.