CCI-newsletter-1982-35-January-March

JANUARY/MARCH 1982

NEWSLETTER

CRAFTS CO LTD. Thomas Prior House, Merrion Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, Ireland.

Telephone 01 680764/603070

Orders of over£1/2m aDay The final tally of orders at the Sixth • National Crafts Trade Fair amounted to a record IR£1.6 million. Taking place in the midst of a recession, this was regarded as a very satisfactory performance, being over 75 per cent up on the previous year.

Export orders were up 100 per cent, totalling over I R£600,000, a tribute not only to the exhibitors but also to the co-operation between the Crafts Council and Coras Trachtala which resulted in the attendance of buyers from the USA and Canada, UK, Northern Ireland and five European countries.

The overall standard of exhibits was again an improvement on the previous year. A general air of professionalism was evident, and indeed many buyers commented on this.

Of the 190 exhibitors on 175 stands, some 60 were new to the Trade Fair— these being mostly smaller individual craftsmen attending for the first time. As in other years, some succeeded, some failed and a number may not repeat the exercise. This has been the general pattern.

The return to the normal dates of the third week in January was welcomed. In 1981 the RDS Industries Hall was not available at the requested time, due to the Society's 250th Anniversary Celebrations.

The Minister of State for Industry and Energy, Mr Eddie Collins, TD, who opened the Fair, spent a considerable amount of time touring the stands and later paid another incognito visit to the Fair. •

Mr Eddie Collins TD, Minister of State at the Department of Industry and Energy, with his wife, visiting the stand of the Kilworth Craft Training Workshops at the Sixth National Crafts Trade Fair. Left to right: Lynne Glasscoe, Training Manager; Terry Dunne, Weaver; Mrs Col/ins; Mr Col/ins; Rosemary Gray, Ceramics; Rose McGonagle, Jeweller; and Iza Corcoran, Ceramics.

Minister of State Opens Sixth National Crafts Trade Fair The Sixth National Crafts Trade Fair was officially opened on the evening of 18 January by Mr Eddie Collins, TD, Minister of State at the Department of Industry and Energy.

"The importance of this type of exhibition to our craftworkers is unquestionable," said the Minister who noted that the 1982 Fair had an impressive total of 189 exhibitors on 175 stands. He noted also the fact that buyers were coming from the USA and Canada, UK, Northern Ireland and five continental countries.

"It is apparent," said the Minister, "that

the tourist and home markets will be the main source of income in the medium term, at least, for our craft workers.

However, there is a vast export market available to the craft industry and the exploitation of this market will ensure the long term development of the craft industry in this country.

"The craftworkers who have their products on display at this Fair will, no doubt, fully appreciate the opportunity which this event offers in providing an international market for their crafts.

"The presence of so many representatives continued in page 2

of overseas buyers is evidence of the increasing interest abroad in Irish craft merchandise and of the growing awareness in Ireland of the importance of advertising and marketing techniques.

Indeed, Irish craftsmen are rapidly becoming conscious of market demands for high quality and well presented craft items. In this area, excellence of product allied with shrewd business sense appears to be the formula for success.

"Ireland now has a thriving craft sector which embraces a number of crafts, including hand pottery, rural crafts, gold and silver work, jewellery and musical instruments. A total of 2,500 persons are now employed fulltime in Irish craft production and their joint output is valued at approximately I RÂŁ20 million per annum. The IDA has placed a special emphasis on the development of this sector and this is reflected both in the number of.projects grant-aided by the IDA, and in a number of significant initiatives which have been undertaken by the IDA to promote the sector."

The Minister noted with satisfaction that this year's Fair featured the work of the first four craftworkers who participated in the Crafts Council's Kilworth Craft Training Workshops. "These four young people," the Minister said, "whose training has been aided by AnCO, will finish their training at the end of this month and thus are preparing themselves for starting a commercial life as fulltime craftsmen. Also, many of the exhibitors are from new IDA and Shannon Development craft centres, such as Marley Park, Strokestown, and Ballycasey. I am particularly pleased to see that the Ulster Polytechnic have a stand here, for four of their 1981 graduates who are also being trained in this commercial arena.

"While recognising that craftworkers are naturally more concerned with the development of their artistic skills, it is important that organisations such as the Crafts Council and, indeed, all concerned with the craft industry, continue to emphasise the need for business competence. The Crafts Council's Kilworth Project is an indication of the emphasis which this organisation places on this type of training. In this challenging craft industry, I feel that excellence of product, allied with a shrewd business sense, is the formula for success. This Fair is undoubtedly the most important event in the Crafts Council's calendar and it is vital to the growth of the craft industry. The Crafts Council deserves great credit for organising the Fair and I am confident that it will grow in size and importance in the years ahead."

Pre-Fair Export Seminar Coras Trachtala and the Crafts Council co-operated closely in arranging an export seminar for inexperienced or entirely new potential exporters, prior to the Sixth National Crafts Trade Fair.

The main reason for organising this afternoon seminar at the Coras Trachtala headquarters was to ensure that when small inexperienced concerns were confronted with an export buyer during the Fair, they would be able to negotiate an order on a satisfactory basis, carry out the work efficiently and deliver the items on time with correct documentation.

On the matter of prompt delivery of orders, it was noted that the Chairman of the Crafts Council of Ireland, Miss Blanaid Reddin, during her speech at the opening of this year's 6th National Trade Fair, stated, "Broken promises cause irreparable damage to the whole craft industry and to your fellow craftsmen."

The Seminar was attended by approximately sixty individuals and the CTT staff who explained the various export problems were most helpful.

For those who did not manage to attend, the names of the CTT executives who took part in the Seminar were: AlfMonaghan, dealing with the giftware market in the United States Colette Cullen, dealing with methods of payment and the financial implications of exporting Fionnuala Martin, dealing with Trade Information (documentation, tariffs, etc) Sally O'Reilly, dealing with transportation of products.

Those who may still have problems relating to export orders at the Trade Fair, or even unrelated to the Fair, can contact these executives and may expect clearcut, well-informed solutions.

Facing page Mr Eddie Collins, TD, Minister of State at the Department of Industry and Energy, opening the Sixth National Crafts Trade Fair.

Above Kevin Donaghy of Studio Donegal receiving the IDA Perpetual Trophy from Michael Feeney, IDA Regional Manager, Donegal.

IDA Perpetual Trophy Award include sophisticated tapestries, shawls, rugs, jackets, hats, caps and scarves. The output is sold in Ireland, Canada, USA, France, Germany and Australia.

The Trophy was presented to Studio Donegal Managing Director, Kevin Donaghy, by Mr Pat O'Brien, Executive Director of the IDA, at a reception in the IDA offices.

Chairman visits the USA

Studio Donegal was established in 1979 and now employs six fulltime handweavers, with local housewives making up the finished goods. Products

Workshop space is urgently needed, 300 to 400 square feet. Anyone wi+h garage or similar accommodation to let please contact Dominic Scott at 01-322547

Studio Donegal Limited, the Kilcar County Donegal Craft Handweavinq organisation, was awarded the IDA Perpetual Craft Trophy for the exhibitor whose products were deemed to be of outstanding merit at the Crafts Council's Sixth National Crafts Trade Fair.

Mr O'Brien pointed out that during the years 1978 to 1981 the IDA have committed more than IRÂŁ1.75 million in grants to almost 240 craft projects which, between them, had employment potential for over 700 craftpersons. This, he said, represented a substantial increase over the I RÂŁ1/2 million approved in the ten years prior to 1977 and there was a commitment to further develop the crafts sector through a variety of measures, especially the provision of Craft Centres.

Workshop Space Wanted

The Chairman of the Crafts Council of Ireland, Miss Blanaid Reddin, is one of a group of ten people who have been incited to participate in a major Irish Tourism Promotion which is taking place in the United States and Canada from 8 to 20 March 1982.

During her tour she will visit various cities in Texas where she will give press interviews as well as featuring on television and radio programmes. She will publicise particularly the high standard of craftwork which is being carried out in Ireland today and the great attraction which Irish crafts have for the tourist.

World Crafts Council Europe Board Meets in Ireland The World Crafts Council Europe Board had their first 1982 meeting in Cork in mid-January. Present was the Chairman, Dr Ed Salden of COSA in Holland-a Crafts Council equivalent; Mr Jan Walgrave, Belgium; Miss Lou Schmidt, and Miss Aasa Hell man, potters from Switzerland and Finland respectively; Mr John Vedel-Rieper from Denmark; Mr Rolf Himberg-Larson from Norway; and the Secretary, Mr Denis Beauje, from France. The prime reason for holding this meeting in Ireland was to consider the possibility of having the European Conference and General Assembly in Ireland in 1983. During their visit, the Board Members had lengthy discussions with the following representatives from the

Crafts Council of Ireland: Miss Blanaid Reddin, Chairman; Miss Betty Searson, Honorary Secretary; and Mr Frank Sutton, Executive Officer.

While the general consensus of opinion is that it would be very desirable to hold this Conference and Assembly meeting here, nothing has as yet been finalised, in particular the date. However, the next meeting of the European Board is due to take place in early June and it is expected that a formal announcement will be made after that.

It may be remembered by many of those who took part what a profound effect was created by the World Crafts Council World General Assembly in Dublin in

1970. Irish crafts and craftsmanship, which were being nourished by a very few, suddenly took on a new lease of life and the real growth in the Irish craft scene stems from that period. If the European Conference, which would be workshop oriented, takes place in Ireland, it will be interesting to see the development, indeed the growth of confidence of Irish craftsmen, since the previous such gathering of Irish and international craftsmen.

Members of the World Crafts Council— Europe Board pictured, during their visit to Ire/and, on the Old Head of Kinsale. L to r: Ed Salden, Chairman; John Vedal-Rieper, Denmark; Aasa Hell man, Finland; Jan Walgrove, Belgium; Lou Schmidt, Switzerland; Denis Beauje, France; and Rolf HimbergLarsen, Norway.

Scandinavian Summer Seminar 1982 The Danish Institute has announced detail of its Seminar Design in Arts and Crafts in Scandinavia, which wiil take place from 31 August to II September I982.

The Seminar is arranged in co-operation with Scandinavian organisations representing arts and crafts, applied art and industrial design. Travelling in Norway, Sweden and Denmark, it will comprise of lectures on new ideas and initiations in applied art and design in each country, study visits to workshops, exhibitions and factories, and will offer the opportunity for participants to meet Scandinavian artists, craftsmen and designers. Expert English speaking guides will travel with the group.

Further information and detailed programmes are available from: Det Danske Selskab/The Danish Institute Kultorvet 2 DK 1175 Copenhagen K Denmark

Dr Ed Salden, Holland, Chairman of the World Crafts Council—Europe Board, during the recent visit of the Board to Ireland.

International Competition The municipal Administration of Faenza announces the 40th International Competition of Artistic Ceramics for 1982 which is open to individual artists or groups of artists. The Exhibition of the works will take place in Faenza from 25 July to 10 October, at the Palazzo delle Sporizioni.

The prizes will consist of: Lira 1,500,000 A one man exhibition of the winning artist at the 1983 Ceramic Exhibition.

The winning work will remain the property of the Town of Faenza and will be exhibited at the Museum of Ceramics.

Pottery Bowls Chosen for Community Awards

Seven purchase prizes worth Lira 500,000 one of which will be awarded to an artist under 26 years of age.

Entries

Each competitor may submit a maximum of five pieces, together with the artist's curriculum and a photograph or slide of each work submitted. He/she must also enclose a technical description of the works. Any technique, except non-fired decoration, may be used.

Entries must reach Faenza, carriage paid, by 15 May 1982 and the completed entry form no later than 30 April 1982.

For full details, application forms and a copy of the rules, telephone the Crafts Council of Ireland, 01 680764/603070.

Irish Patchwork Society The recently-formed Irish Patchwork Society will hold its first Annual General Meeting on Saturday, 27 March 1982, at Our Lady's Bower, Senior Secondary School, Retreat Road, Athlone, County Westmeath.

For details contact Ann McDermott, 8 Raheen Green, Blessington Road, Tallaght, Co Dublin. Telephone 01 — 513373.

Congratulations to Liz Dooley, Editor, and to all concerned with the very attractive first issue of the Irish Patchwork Society Newsletter which has

been published recently. Their editorial office is located at 138 Whitehall Road West, Terenure, Dublin 12. Telephone 01-506693.

The Dublin potter, Michael Jackson, has been commissioned to make trophies for this year's The Irish Post Community Awards.

Winner of RDS £1,000 Craft Scholarship Miss Catherine MacAleavey from Cabinteely, Co Dublin, has been awarded the Royal Dublin Society £1,000 Craft Scholarship or development fund for 1981.

A graduate of the Dun Laoghaire School of Art and Design, Catherine MacAleavey has won many other prizes including the Kilkenny Design Workshops's "Young Designer Awards" which enabled her to attend a year-long Textile Designer Course in Finland. She will use her Royal Dublin Society award to establish herself as a handweaver in Ireland.

Each year The Irish Post pays tribute to ten Irish people or organisations in Britain whose achievements are most laudable. Last year's award recipients included actor Peter O'Toole, novelist Edna O'Brien, Lord Longford, Professor Hugh Maguire from the Royal Academy of Music, and Mary Mullin, well-known to Irish craftworkers since her days with the Kilkenny Design Workshops.

The trophies themselves are selected with a view to conveying excellence in Irish Art and Craft. Michael Jackson's piece, of which ten copies have been ordered, is a large shallow bowl originally designed for last year's Royal Dublin Society Crafts Competition. The decorated lines are applied gilding and the form is based on an early Irish neolithic bowl found in County Down.

This commission is yet another addition to the many distinctions awarded to Michael Jackson since setting up his own studio in 1977 at Clondalkin, County Dublin, under the name of Stoneware Jackson. It will be remembered that in 1979 and 1980 Michael Jackson won the award for the best stand at the 1979 and 1980 Crafts Council of Ireland Trade Fair.

Soon Michael will move to Bennettsbridge, County Kilkenny, where he has taken over the studio previously owned

by Simon Pierce.

The Guinness Workers Employment Fund Limited The Guinness Workers Employment Fund Limited was established in 1958 and the first loans were made in 1960. It is registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act and its main objective is to create, promote or increase employment.

It began when some Guinness workers at the Port of Dublin, conscious of the steady stream of emigration, felt that everyone had a duty towards his less fortunate fellow worker. They got together with other workers at St James's Gate and set up this fund in the hope that some jobs could be created through the Fund's activities and that other firms and organisations would follow suit in setting up similar companies. The membership is approximately 1,200 people, all either working for the Guinness Group in Ireland, or on pension from it. Each contributor holds one 5p share and no return is ever made to a subscriber.

Subscriptions are now pure donations and are deducted at the rate of 10 pence weekly.

The Fund is managed by a Committee of ten people working voluntarily in their own time. The Guinness Company gives support to the Fund in many ways: 1 Deducations are made by the Company from remuneration and pension of the subscriber 2 The Fund is allowed to use the name of Guinness in its name and is given office facilities 3 Two Guinness Company nominees act on the Fund's Committee bringing their special expertise to the benefit of the Committee. The Guinness Company holds a special share of £20 in the Fund.

4 The Guinness Company may, if requested by the Guinness Workers Employment Fund Limited, agree to share in some of the loans made by the Fund. This participation increases the money available to the Guinness Workers Employment Fund Limited, which then borrows an amount for a specific loan.

The form of financial aid is almost always loans but grants have been given and even equity taken in some companies.

The interest rate is considered separately in each loan and can be either higher or lower than the bank rate.

Projects have been helped in twenty-four counties, covering a wide range of crafts, tourism, co-operatives, visual aids, furniture, glazing, pleasure cruising, boat-building, marine engineering, food, knitwear, light engineering, printing, rehabilitation, electrical services, office equipment, casting, material bonding, upholstery, joinery, CMT, market gardening, garden composts, haute couture, ladies and children's wear, building, etc. Loans have ranged from £50 to £500 in the first years, but now average £4000. Over £276,000 has been advanced todate. The best available security is sought and taken in each case. However, the Fund is a lender of last resort and risks are taken when normal channels of finance refuse.

Exhibition-National Museum of Ireland

Apprenticeships

Irish Bedcovers: techniques and traditions

The Crafts Council frequently receives requests from fully trained, partly trained, or totally inexperienced people wishing to undertake an apprenticeship with a master craftsman.

A special exhibition of Irish bedcovers is now on display in the National Museum Exhibition Centre, 7—9 Merrion Row, Dublin 2. The exhibition, which was opened by Dr Kevin Danaher on 22 February, will run until 18 April 1982.

The exhibition comprises forty items from he collections of the National Museum of Ireland, the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, and Muckross House, Killarney. +

The specimens displayed have been selected so as to illustrate all the techniques known to have been used over the past 200 years for making bedcovers in Ireland. These include quilting and patchwork, two crafts of ancient origin which acquired great popularity in the nineteenth century. Knitted, crocheted and embroidered bedcovers are also shown.

The making of bedcovers was a social event, which brought together a number of women in a locality who would use the occasion for exchanging news. The exhibition will testify to the craft skills of our countrywomen and to the important part the making of bedcovers played in their lives.

The exhibition includes'a video tape

and slide tape presentation of a quilting party in Kilgarvan, County Kerry. A brochure is available in advance on request.

The exhibition is open to the public as follows: Tuesday to Saturday Sunday Admission is free.

10am—5pm 2pm—5pm

For further details please contact Felicity Devlin, Education Officer, National Museum. Telephone 01 765521

Grants are available to master craftsmen who decide to take an apprentice. There are many craftsmen who do not wish to take on an apprentice for many reasons of their own. To take on an apprentice is one way of giving of your knowledge and skill to another for whom this may be the only possible route to becoming a craftsman. The Crafts Council and, in particular, its Crafts Officer, Sean O'Farrell, would like to hear from any craftsman seeking apprentices: it may be possible to match apprentices and master, and also to ensure that the grant situation is not only made clear but also made available.

Position Wanted Potter, experienced in repetition throwing, hand building, glazing and firing, would like experience of working in production pottery in exchange for small payment and keep. Mid-June to mid-September, 1982.

Contact: Sheila Stone, 14 Rathlin Road, Glasnevin, Dublin 9.

Telephone 01 371502

Condolences We would like to extend our sincere sympathy to Helena Brennan on the death of her mother, to Sean O.Farrell on the death of his father, and to Mary Mullin on the death of her mother.