CCI-newsletter-1979-21-July-August

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NEWSLETTER

JULY/AUGUST 1979

CRAFTS COUNCII OF IRELAND... Thomas Prior House, Merrion Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 Telephone 01 680764

1979 Conference /Seminar The 1979 Conference will be in seminar form and the title "Craftsmanship is our Business" is indicative of the content which is in accord with the desire of many of the delegates at Wexford last year to hear speakers discuss certain aspects of the business of being a craftsman, such as the keeping of records, VAT, tax and such matters. While craftsmanship is undoubtedly about design and creativity, discipline and attention to detail, all discussed both philosophically and practically at Wexford, the craftsman cannot avoid, if what it is all about is more than a dilletante way of life, the economic realities of making a living. Inevitably, if a living is to be made, other disciplines must be recognised, however time-consuming and uncreative they may be; that they are, in many cases, imposed from outside makes them even less palatable. Understanding very often makes a task lighter and it is in an effort to aid this understanding not only of the discipline but of the reasons behind the discipline and the easiest ways to conform to it that this year's seminar will be concerned.

The seminar form will mean less philo sophy and more practical instruction and a greater opportunity for direct involvement and elucidation of what may not be clear.

Time will be given for discussion of problems of craftsmanship in general.

Christmas Store Promotion

Crafts Council Medal

Posters, craft shop identification cards and point of sale tent cards will again be available to craft shops wishing to avail of them during the Christmas season this year.

This year's winner of the Crafts Council of Ireland Silver Medal for excellence in craftsmanship has been awarded to Mollie Moore of Grange Con, Carrigrohane, Co Cork.

The intention, as before, is to help to identify to the general public craft shops as sources of interesting and good value gifts for Christmas. The theme, as last year, is that of "Pick and Perfect Present."

The award to Mollie Moore marks many years of skill and craftsmanship of a high order in a traditional craft, and the Crafts Council, whose interest in the encouragement and preservation of the traditional crafts is as strong as that of contemporary crafts welcomes the decision of the jury in making this award.

Craftsmen and Craft Associations and Guilds may wish to ensure that craft shops in their area which will be open for Christmas will have every aid to move stocks which, because of the poor start to this year's tourist season, will probably still be fairly high. Crafts Council will be pleased to cooperate with craftsmen, craft associations and guilds and craft shops in helping to make Christmas sales as high as possible this year. Posters, craft shop identification cards and point of sales material will be sent post free to applicants and it is to be hoped that everyone who can avail of this offer will do so.

f o r

Crafts Council to Sponsor Finnish Glass Exhibition Crafts Council of Ireland is sponsoring a major exhibition of Finish glass which will be mounted during Kilkenny Arts Week—25 August to 2 September. This exhibition features some of the most important artists working in glass in Finland in recent years and includes such names as Kaj Franck, Tapio Wirkkala, and Bjorn Weckstom.

The Conference/Seminar will be held at the conference centre at the Silver Springs Hotel in Cork on the first week­ end in November and details of costs and bookings may be had from Crafts Council of Ireland, and will also be announced in the national press.

The interest in studio glass in Ireland has grown considerably in recent years and the National College of Art and Design now has a course in studio glass. It is to be hoped that all those interest in the best of contemporary glass will visit and gain inspiration from this important exhibition.


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CCI-newsletter-1979-21-July-August by Design & Crafts Council Ireland - Issuu