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Over recent years the majority of enquiries the Crafts Council has received
NEWJEWELLERY DESIGN COURSE
have been those seeking information on training for jewellery production. This demand coupled with the Council's appreciation of the European Community's market in jewellery made from precious metals - in 1990, IRÂŁ1.35 billions - encouraged the Crafts Council to look to the sector for its third initiative in craft training. Therefore the Crafts Council in association with Craftsworks, the development agency for Northern Ireland, intends to start a new "skills" course in February 1993 - The Jewellery Design and Production Skills Course. Based in Kilkenny, its chief
It is this type of mix that has proven
objective will be to skill a coming
so successful in the Crafts Council of
generation of craftspeople so that
Ireland's Pottery Skills Course over
they can produce jewellery of the
the past three intakes.
highest creative and technical
Desmond A. Byrne Master gold and silversmith Kilkenny
standard; jewellery that will be
The project is supported by the
accepted in any major market in
European Social Fund through the
the world on its commercial and
INTERREG scheme administered by
aesthetic merits.
both the Northern Ireland Office
Photo: Laura Walsh
working with a pendant drill Photo: Laura Walsh
and our own Department of Labour. From the many applications
As a cross border enterprise there
already received to take part in the
will be 10/12 trainees from both
course, it is likely that there will be
the Republic of Ireland and
three types of trainee - school
Northern Ireland. Because of its
leavers seeking the equivalent of
location in the South East the course
an intensive "apprenticeship",
has also been grant aided by
young people who have had some
SERtec, the regional agency with
commercial experience of jewellery
responsibility for technological
production and who wish to
development in the area.
develop their skills and chances of employment, or college leavers
There has been an international
who wish to further develop their
application for the role of trainer
skills and establish their own
and the Council hopes to announce
successful studio/workshops.
an appointment in January.