CCI-newsletter-1995-80-No17

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SHOWCASE '95 TO EXCEED ALL OTHER YEARS SHOWCASE DUBLIN '95, the 19th Irish craft, gift and fashion trade fair, which will open in the RDS this month is set to exceed the success of previous years according to the Fair organisers.

All of the available space at the RDS has been sold with over 550 exhibitors, including a strong representation from Northern Ireland, fully occupying the whole of the exhibition complex.

Over 1,000 overseas buyers, coming from 22 countries, are expected to attend following diligent promotion by An Bord

Mr. Ruairi Quinn, T.D. the new Minister of Finance, pictured with Christine Ross, Chief

Trachtala in the US, Canada,

Executive, and Cyril Forbes, Chairman, Crafts Council of Ireland at Showcase '94.

Japan and Europe's major

If this year's SHOWCASE does

Ireland's most talented and

markets in Germany, France and

exceed past years then there are

creative craftspeople are

Italy. In addition, An Bord

grounds for great optimism

exhibiting work which has been

Trachtala and the organisers,

amongst exhibitors given that a

recognised by the Crafts Council

Eurofairs Ltd, have targetted

survey of exhibitors in 1994

of Ireland for its high quality and

both specialist and mainstream

revealed a total sales figure of

design content.

UK buyers.

ÂŁ18.6 million. These orders have resulted in a total of 697 jobs,

The Crafts Council of Ireland wish

Over 7,000 Irish and international

121 of them full-time, 108 part-

all those exhibiting at, or visiting,

buyers attended this event last

time and 468 as out-workers.

SHOWCASE DUBLIN '95 a very

year.

The Fair as usual will include the

prosperous New Year!

Craft Village where 100 of

I

Crafts Council Exhibitions

CHRISTMAS GIFT EXHIBITION OPENS

Despite it being one of the most eventful weeks in the history of Irish politics, Mr. Ruairi Quinn, TD, fulfilled his promise to officially open the Crafts Council's Christmas Gifts Exhibition at the Gallery in Powerscourt Townhouse at the end of November.

handmade buttons by Patricia Clyne-Kelly of Wicklow proved particularly popular and there was much praise for the stunning silver candlesticks, priced at over £900,

by Kevin O'Dwyer of Dublin.

Also for sale were hand painted handkerchiefs, prints, pottery, porcelain and exotic occasional jewellery made of feathers and precious stones by Nicole Lewanowski from Wexford.

sales results from the Exhibition were not known, but given that these have improved every year and that those who have been shopping at the Exhibition have voiced their appreciation of the items on display, it is to be expected that the 1994 Christmas Gifts Exhibition will prove profitable for all those involved.

Opening Soon at the Crafts Council Gallery....

THE LANGUAGE OF WOOD -

As is always the case with this particular "exhibition, the The Exhibition, emphasis was on which was open selling, selling, selling until Christmas Eve, "Men Drinking Guinness" and there was truly included the work

by Brian Buckley something at the of over 100 Exhibition to suit everyone's taste craftspeople some of whom, such and pocket. A large proportion of as Cormac Boydell, a ceramicist the items on display were in the from Beara in Co. Cork, exhibit £5 to £15 price bracket, yet there exclusively at the Gallery. Also on were gift ideas for the discerning display were a set of swinging oak costing up to £1,000. garden chairs made from recycled whiskey vats by Brian Quill of At the time of going to press, the Dublin. Of the smaller gift items,

Crafts in Wood from Finland

13th January - 25th February THE POTTER'S CHOICE

7th March - 29th April An exhibition based on the private collections of potters in Ireland EXPLORING THE LATHE (Working Title)

9th May - 24th June An exhibition of the work of invited makers working in different media, whose common ground is the use of the lathe.

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS AT THE

number of workshop leaders will

CRAFTS COUNCIL GALLERY

deal with different themes during the week, under the guidance and direction of the English

Over 150 business people attended a reception in the Crafts Council

designer/weaver, Ann Sutton. The

Gallery in Powerscourt Townhouse

week of workshops will be

Centre in early December as guests

followed by a weekend

of the Crafts Council.

conference on the theme of

The event, entitled "Business After

Jordan at the Dublin office for

marketing rugs. Contact Catherine Hilary Morley, Retail Manager at The Business after Hours meeting.

more information.

the Dublin Chamber of Commerce.

WORKSHOPS FOR PROFESSIONAL

MAIREAD MCANALLEN DEPARTS

The benefits to the Crafts Council

RUG MAKERS

Hours", was one of the networking events organised by

included an opportunity to

Mairead joined the Crafts Council

promote the Christmas Gifts

At the end of March, the Crafts

in 1986 as Administration Officer,

Exhibition to a target audience

Council will direct a week long

a position which she held until

and an opportunity to remind

series of workshops examining the

1988. With the move to the

them of the Crafts Council's

rug in its contemporary context,

Powerscourt Townhouse Centre

speciality in corporate gifts and

and looking at specific problems of

and the opening of the Council's

presentations for all occasions.

designing for the modern floor. A

Gallery, Mairead found her true

niche as Gallery Administrator. In

restricted to textiles, was taken

Exhibitions Assistant.

subsequent years she was

over by Mairead who broadened it

responsible for many valuable and

to a multi-media project. Over the

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S CLUB

successful exhibitions in the Gallery

years she made this workshop,

In October, Christine Ross

and a great many crafts people are

which charted new territory for

addressed a meeting of the

in her debt for the way in which

the Craft's Council, into an exciting

International Women's Club in

she helped them in developing

and stimulating experience for

Dublin, about the work of the

their work.

those who took part in it. For this

Council. The Club is a meeting

and all the other innovative ideas

place for women of all

Many would feel however, that

Mairead brought to the Craft

nationalities, including those who

her most rewarding work was her

Sector, we say 'Thank You'.

are here professionally and those

involvement with the Burren

accompanying partners on

Workshop. This workshop, started

Catherine Jordan has been

by Frank Sutton and initially

appointed to the position of

| YOUNG JEWELLERS GRADUATE Even RTE television news turned up to mark the occasion of the Graduation of twelve jewellery trainees from the Jewellery Design and Production Skills Course in Kilkenny in November. Both RTE and the national newspapers who reported on the occasion highlighted the fact that one third of the twelve students already had job offers in the jewellery trade and the remainder are planning further training at University level and in manufacturing firms.

These are the first students to complete this two year course, which was set up in 1992 by the Crafts Council at the Crescent Workshop.

The graduates, who come from all over the 32 counties and even the UK, trained both in design and technical production. Under the keen eye of Course Trainer, Jane Huston, the graduates studied gemmology; making moulds; casting metals; hand making of settings; polishing techniques; workshop safety and specific subjects such as enamelling and engraving. The students have also been encouraged to develop a commercial attitude in addition to their craftsmanship.

business.

AIB contributed sponsorship to the course which the Council decided would be used to provide jewellery tool sets for each of the students.

The students took the sets with them on graduating.

"These tool sets are most appropriate for our graduates in that they are receiving 'the rod as opposed to the fish' and they can use them to continue to develop their skills and careers", said Cyril Forbes who presented the students with their certificates.

The objective of the course was, and is, to create real, lasting employment based on high standards of training. While it is only a start, and the students have further training to complete, the twelve graduates from Kilkenny will no doubt be an asset to any company while they continue to gain experience and skills.

The graduates were: Berina Kelly, Galway; Una McDonnell, Tyrone; Gilbert Henry, Sligo; Maria Lindsay, Belfast; Neil I Kelly, Kilkenny; Des Doyle, Kilkenny; Margaret Rutter, Wicklow; Eddie Dawson, Dublin; Ciaran Breen, Dublin; Brian Martin, Wexford; Caroline Bennett, Cornwall (UK) and Seliena Coyle, Derry.

Pictured from left to right: Caroline Bennett, Una McDonnell and Selina Coyle at work in the Craft Council's Crescent Workshop, Cas Yard, Kilkenny

The Graduation ceremony was followed in the afternoon by an exhibition of the students work which was attended by representatives from the jewellery trade and local people.

During the full-time jewellery course there has been opportunity to share the facility with the trade whilst the workshop has been empty.

Anybody requiring further information on the Jewellery Design and Production Skills Course in Kilkenny should contact Jane Huston at 056-61804.

It is hoped to repeat the course in the new year. This course was funded by Interreg in its first year and by NOVA for the second year of the programme.

[O

CONTRIBUTIONS WELCOME

like to see covered in forthcoming issues, please let us

^

The New Year's resolution of the

know so that the newsletter can

L ^ team who put together this

become of increasing interest to

^

its readers.

newsletter is that they intend to

•^>> have to do as little as possible in PUBLIC RELATIONS

^T"

By that they mean that the I newsletter, which is, after all, for

The Management Committee is

New Craft Village at Dun Geagan, Co. Kerry, seeks sales assistant's.

For further details please contactJohn A. Connolly, Project Manager, Cill Rialaig Project, Ballinskelligs, Co. Kerry.

Tel. (066) 79297 Fax. (066) 79324

pleased to announce the

S

craftspeople, needs

appointment of Wilson Hartnell

Esker Riada, Ballycrissane,

Uj

articles/suggestions/letters by our

Public Relations as PR consultants

Portumna, interpretive centre

to the Crafts Council. The Crafts

resident artists arcade planned for

L^j readers.

Council account is being handled

1995. Interested artists should

So here's your challenge for 1995.

by Mary Finan, Managing Director

apply to:-

If you or your colleagues have

and Martina Byrne, Senior

received a large or unusual

Account Executive.

Adrian Cummins, Project Manager,

commission, why don't you let us know. If you take exception to

WHPR have put together an

something which has been

intensive programme of public

covered in a newsletter - why

relations activity for the coming

don't you let us know. If you'd

months and we wish them every

like to tell the editorial team how

success in their endeavours to

wonderful they are - why don't

assist the marketing strategy of

you let us know. And if there are

the Council.

Esker Riada, Ballycrissane, Portumna, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway.

Tel. (0905) 75205 Fax. (0905) 75247

issues or topics which you would

The Management Committee 1994 Chair Mr. Cyril Forbes Wee Chair Ms. Hilary Pratt Mr. Tom O'Connor Ms. Suzanne May Mr. Michael McCrory Mr. Rudolf Heltzel Dr. David Shaw-Smith Ms. Breda Haugh Ms. Knut Klimmek Mr. David Hargaden Mr. Brendan Flood Mr. Neil Read Ms. Kaethe Burt-O'Dea

Crafts Council Staff

The Crafts Council of Ireland

Dublin Chief Executive Craft Development Officer Administrative Officer Administrative Assistant Telephonist/Receptionist Gallery Administrator Exhibitions Assistant Retail Manager Shop Assistant (PT)

Dublin Christine Ross Sean O'Farrell Margaret Jones Vacant Michelle French Mairead McAnallen Catherine Jordan Hilary Morley Sally Dunne

The Crescent Workshop Training and Education Officer Supervisor/Information Officer Administrative Assistant

South William Street, Dublin 2 Tel.

01 679 7368

Fax.

01679 9197

Kilkenny Leslie Reed Emer Ferran Nuala McGrath

Ms. Mary Jackson Ms. Bernadette Madden

Powerscourt Townhouse Centre

Thomastown Pottery Skills Course Trainer Gus Mabelson

The Crescent Workshop, Castle Yard Kilkenny

Tel. 056 61804 or 62734 Fax. 056 63754

Jewellery Design and Production Skills Course Trainer

Jane Huston

CAD/CAM Training for the Irish Knitwear Industry Coordinator

Julie Griffith

All information is published in good faith but without research, so please check carefully before committing yourself to work or financial outlay Please forward all information to Emer FerranThe copy date for the next issue is 3rd February. The Print date is 17th February