CCI-newsletter-1979-18-January-February

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1979

NEWSLETTER

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

Orders worth £37&000 Placed at Trade Fair The final tally at the end of the three day National Crafts Trade Fair 1979 amounted to £373,000 in firm orders placed with exhibitors by the buyers from over 300 buying points. This should conservatively develop into £% million when repeat orders are taken into consideration throughout the year. While the increase in exhibitors stands from 67 to 110 indicated that there would be at least a pro rata increase in orders placed, the significant point is that the average order per stand was up this year from £2,240 to £3,391 which is a 50 per cent increase.

Eighty per cent of the total business was done by the strictly handcraft sector of exhibitors.

"Fantastic" "Fantastic" was how one exhibitor described the first day's business achieved at his stand during the Third National Crafts Trade Fair. "Sales up on last year", "Booked up to September' "Double last year's figure", "Opened new accounts" were among the other comments by exhibitors and this was generally in line with the feelings of exhibitors generally. One buyer commenting on the advantage of the Fair said: "Its a one stop shopping occasion, prior to this you had to go to Galway and up to Tippera'ry, down to Kerry, maybe to Cork. Now they are all here under one roof and there is a very high standard here as well."

Annual General Meeting Date Fixed The Annual General Meeting of Crafts Council of Ireland will take place on Wednesday, April 25th this year.

All member organisations should note the date. It may be timely also to point out that organisations which have not paid up their subscriptions will not have any voting rights.

Another buyer stated that he now places over 40 per cent of his annual purchases of crafts at the Trade Fair.

An Irish Times report suggested that the Trade Fair has now "arrived" and this would appear to be accepted by all participating.

The Minister of State at the Department of industry, Commerce and Energy, Mrs Maire Geoghegan-Quinn, admires one of Charles Zanoni's enamels at the Third National Crafts Trade Fair.

Minister of State Visits Trade Fair The Minister of State, Department of Industry, Commerce and Energy, Mrs Maire Geoghegan-Quinn T.D., paid an official visit to the Third National Crafts Trade Fair on 16th January. She spent an hour at the Fair and showed considerable interest in the various exhibits and the comments from exhibitors and buyers as well as the obviously good business being recorded.

Exhibition Guide Published A new publication has just been issued by the Crafts Council and copies are available to member organisations as well as others relevant to Crafts. This short guide, with the title "Guide to setting up Small Exhibitions and Trade Fairs" is both a listing of do's and don'ts in simple terms and a helpful listing of easily and locally available materials and how to use them to the best effect.

The impact on the general public of a poorly set out exhibition or fair is that of seeing the crafts in terms of a jumble sale and hence a denigration of what could be well designed and well made products because the general atmosphere has been itself denigratory.

The importance of the many local exhibitions of arts and crafts in terms of a better understanding and appreciation of craftsmanship cannot be under-estimated—the good that they can do in promoting good crafts generally is undeniable. However, the damage which they can do by poor standards of exhibition is even more so.

The new publication should prove a useful aid towards improving the present generally low standard.

Library The following publications have been received: Crafts — November/December 1978 Ceramic Review — November/ December 1978 Craftwork — September/October 1978

The stand of the Musical Instrument Makers Guild.

Quotes "Too few museums are aware of what is going on in the present world of crafts, and consequently use available funds to acquire earlier, more established things.

Find your local crafts person and buy his wares before history makes him too important for you to afford."

This advice was given to the 19th Mid West Antique Forum at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn recently by gallery owner Helen W Drutt, who gave a slide lecture on "Collecting Contemporary Crafts" at the five day forum. The essence of the presentation was learning to recognise the antiques of tomorrow.

Pottery in Australia — Autumn 1978

Scheppend Ambacht — December 1978

Comment was that although museums in other countries were investing in contemporary crafts, not enough was being done by US museums.

Artisanat — September 1978

A lesson for Ireland?

Craft Horizons - October 1978 FBCS Journal - Autumn 1978

Crafts Report - November 1978 Craft Australia - Autumn 1978

Catalogues:

The following books have been acquired as additions to the library:

Third National Crafts Trade Fair

Crafts of Israel — Ruth Dayan

State of Clay — Sunderland Arts Centre Exhibition

Irish Spinning, Dyeing and Weaving — Lit lias Mitchell

Domestic Pottery — Crafts Advisory Committee

Glass Forming and Glass Making for che Craftsman — F & L Schuler

Glenys Barton - Crafts Advisory Committee

"There is no reason why the very best handwork of today, of which there is far too little, should not be put alongside fine antiques and compared in every way, including price. Why should we be brow-beaten by antique dealers who have made fortunes out of the dead and have never lifted a finger to encourage living craftsmen."

Sir Gordon Russell 1978 address at the Royal Society of Arts.

Dutch Interest in Crafts Adler and Zoon B.V. of Randwijcklaan 35, Amsterdam are interested in getting in touch with Irish artist craftsmen producing textiles, handwoven woollen carpets, ceramics and glassware. Adler and Zoon are manufacturers representatives for imports into Holland and in addition own an important retail shop in Amsterdam.

It would be important that those who may wish to get in touch with Adler and Zoon should be completely conversant with exporting and have sufficient production and good delivery facilities.

126 Exhibitors at National Crafts Trade Fair The Third National Crafts Trade Fair, with 126 exhibitors on 110 stands, was twice the size of its predecessor in 1978, reflecting the growth of interest in this annual event organised by Crafts Council. The original concept of the Trade Fair as the major annual national event in the crafts sector is moving towards realisation and the big Industries Hall in the RDS now looks as though it may prove too small unless the Fair is limited.

The Fair, at which craftsmen and small craft industries show at one place their latest ranges to buyers, is bringing a degree of rationalisation to the marketing of crafts in that at the beginning of the crafts year and in what is a quiet time for the craftsman they can take orders at least for a proportion of the year ahead and know with certainty that what they produce is not merely speculative but firmly booked, and also that, in the normal course of events, repeat orders will be forthcoming.

Buyers were busy throughout the day to cover the 126 exhibitors.

The advantages to planning work schedules and raw material ordering are obvious and to those who are in a position as well organised small businesses the economic benefits will be apparent.

Among those taking part were many who had benefitted from previous participation, but there were many new faces and a wider and more diverse range of products, some new to the market place.

Those who will reap the most benefit from the Fair will, again, be those who appreciate what such a fair is all about and who came to it in a properly organised manner. While Crafts Council has an obligation to craftsmen whether large or small, and is concerned to see that the small craftsmen are enabled to get off to a good beginning by exposing their products to a wide spectrum of buyers at one place, it also has an obligation to the buyers to see that those exhibiting are business-like in their approach.

There have been instances in which craftsmen with interesting products and good intentions have, in practice, let the buyer down by not delivering according to order and on time. Such craftsmen not only damage their own reputation but also that of their fellow craftsmen who have approached the Trade Fair in a properly business-like fashion. Buyers

Michael Stoneware Jackson was awardeo a free stand for the 1980 Trade Fair.

tend to be wary of dealing with new craftsmen because they fear their possibly poor performance, and experience of poor performance costs buyers money because if the crafts they plan to sell are not delivered on time they cannot then go and replace the missing stock at short notice.

If 1980 sees a tightening of the conditions of entry to the Trade Fair, it is to ensure the preservation of credibility and to ensure likewise the continuation and strengthening of what is a vital annual event recognised as such by the well organised craftsmen who will see their success linked to it.

AOTDXCniOTOM ®M ©HJniLP M E W CRAFTS COUNCIL CHAIRMAN APPOINTED TO ARTS COUNCIL BOARD Mr James Warwick MA ARCA N RD ATD, the present Chairman of Crafts Council of Ireland, was recently appointed by the Government to the Board of An Chomhairle Ealaoin, the Arts Council.

Mr Warwick is also Vice-Chairman of the Art and Design Studies Board of the National Council for Educational Awards.

A Trustee of the Ulster Museum, a member of its Building and General Purposes Committee, as well as Chairman of the Museum's Art Purchasing Committee, Mr Warwick is a member of the City and Guilds of London Consultative Committee.

NORTH TIPPERARY CRAFTWORKERS ASSOCIATION This Association now has 22 members.

The Chairman is Miss Pauline Flannery, Vice-Chairman, James Foley, Honorary Secretary, Peter Hogan and Treasurer, Andrew Lennox.

Arrangements are being made for an exhibition of North Tipperary crafts from 16th to 18th April at the Vocational School in Nenagh.

DUBLIN POTTER WINS FAIR PRIZE

TO LECTURE IN USA

Michael (Stoneware) Jackson was judged the winner of the award for the best stand at the Trade Fair. The criteria included display, product, lighting, literature and price lists, as well as the total relationship to the environment of a Trade Fair rather than an exhibition.

The simple but impeccably made wooden fittings, the arrangement of product, and simple clear literature and price lists put him ahead of the five others who were short listed for the final judging. The decision we understand was close but unanimous.

Miss Mary Coleman of Country Markets and a member of the Management Committee of Crafts Council has been invited by the Irish American Cultural Institute for a month long lecture tour of the United States.

The prize? A free stand in the prime position for the 1980 Fair.

CRAFT POTTERS SOCIETY OF IRELAND The first Annual General Meeting of the Craft Potters Society of Ireland took place at Buswells Hotel, Molesworth Street, on Friday 23rd February at 8.00 pm. The Society now has 67 members.

SEMINAR

EXHIBITIONS

Det Danske Selskab, initiated to provide information and cultural co-operation with other countries, are running a seminar "Applied Art and Industrial Design in Denmark" which is concerned with Scandinavian handcraft and industrial production and it is organised in co-operation with the National Design Societies and

Frieda Meaney Batiks, Triskel Art Centre, Cork, 27th February.

with expert guidance. Meetings are arranged with artist, craftsmen and designers.

SUMMER GRANTS FOR 1979

The seminar is from 3rd July to 11th August. The cost DK4,200. Details from Det Danske Selskab, Kulturvet 2, DK 1175, Copenhagen K. FOR SALE 36" Flyshuttle loom 6 pedals, 4 harness.

Though old, the loom is in good working condition. £225.

Box JF91

Ken Dolan, United Arts Club, Dublin, 26th March.

CRAFTSMEN WANTED FOR MOUNTCASHEL CASTLE This 15th century tower house, which is also a National Monument, is being 'developed' as a major tourist attraction over the coming three months. Mountcashel is in private ownership and several thousand tourists/visitors come to see the Castle each year—it is located a few miles from Shannon Airport, Bunratty Castle, Knappogue Castle etc. and is on a main road between the above mentioned tourist attractions.

The owners of Mountcashel are anxious to contact at least two craftworkers who may care to work within the Castle from, say, 1st April to 31st September and longer if required. Mountcashel will be open from 10.00 am to 4.30 pm each day. All working facilities are available.

Such craft products can be sold in the Castle shop. Extensive publicity would be given to such craftworkers and their products through the Castle's general advertising.

They would also be interested to contact craftworkers who can make various suitable items for sale, and exhibition in Mountcashel.

Anyone wishing to have further details should contact: Ian O'Casey, Mount­ cashel Castle, Kilmurry, Ennis, Co Clare.

The Spanish Government makes available annually eight scholarships to attend a summer course in Spain. Four will be awarded to Spanish teachers at Irish secondary or vocational schools, who are teaching the language during the present academic year, and four to any student or graduate from a third level institution.

Information and application forms from: Department of Education, Grants Section, Marlborough Street, Dublin 1. Telephone 717101.

OPEN DISCUSSION ON CRAFT EDUCATION Dun Laoghaire School of Art will be the venue for an open discussion on "Craft Education in Ireland" from 15th to 17th March. It is being organised by the Dun Laoghaire School of Art and the feeling is that it would be of benefit to all teachers of craft subjects if it could be known what each college was doing on its craft courses and what is needed to further them.