Lauch of first event Cork Craft Month

Event to showcase County Cork as a centre for quality Irish crafts

The first ever Cork Craft Month involving over 200 craft makers from across the County was launched today by Mr. Billy Kelleher, T.D., Minister for Trade and Commerce, in the Granary Gallery, Kinsale. (Tuesday August 3rd).

Organised by Cork Art and & Design, and supported by Cork County Council, Cork County & City Enterprise Boards and the Crafts Council of Ireland, Cork Craft Month is the first major programme of applied arts and craft events for the County, bringing together ceramicists, jewellers, textile-workers, furniture-makers, wood turners, paper and felt makers, sculptors and many more.

Cork Craft Month comprises a huge range of exhibitions, fairs and open studios, and a plethora of "hands on" events and workshops. The programme of events includes:

An open studios trail including 28 artists’ studios, across Cork County
47 individual crafts events across the county – demonstrations, fairs and workshops
Key exhibitions at Blarney Castle, Ballymaloe House, Cork City Gaol and The Granary, Kinsale.
Displays and exhibitions in 25 key craft retailers

According to Adrian Wistreich of Cork Art and Design, Cork Craft month is envisaged as an annual event similar in format to the Northern Irish Crafts Month. Speaking before the launch Adrian Wistreich noted “Cork Craft Month is a ‘federal’ affair, the result of the efforts and initiatives of dozens, if not hundreds, of craftspeople working locally to organise their own events, exhibitions and open studios – a real grass roots, entpreneurial approach – supported by centralised marketing and promotion”.

Christine Heffernan from the Cork County and City Enterprise Boards noted the importance of the Craft Sector within the Small to Medium Enterprise sector and the economic landscape of County Cork, “This is one of a number of business support initiatives we are commited to within the craft sector, we see the sector as an important one in the economic development of the region".

Speaking at the launch was Chairman of the Crafts Council of Ireland, Laura Magahy, who welcomed the event and said it is a model for other counties to run similar events.

ENDS

LINK TO PHOTOS OF THE LAUNCH

Information for journalists
Cork Art & Design is an organisation aimed at supporting and encouraging the growth of the professional craft industry and to promote Cork as a centre for exciting and innovative hand made craft. CAD is an umbrella organisation which aims to represent all in the craft sector in County Cork, individual artists / crafts people as well as groups, networks and guilds.

For full details of events go to www.corkartdesign.com
Contact: Méabh Ring, Project Manager, Cork Craft Month, on 087 6711147 and / or Adrian Wistreich, Cork Art & Design Committee, on 087 9696901 / adrianwistreich@gmail.com

Cork Art & Design’s objective is to support and encourage the growth of the professional craft industry and to promote Cork as a centre for exciting and innovative hand made craft. The project will showcase County Cork and it’s crafts makers as a centre for quality Irish crafts in the minds of domestic Irish consumer and international visitors.
The organisers also plan to work with stakeholders to promote linkages within the economic, tourism, artistic and cultural landscape of County Cork.

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West Cork Enterprise Board 8 Kent Street, Clonakilty, Co Cork Tel: 023 88 34700 Fax: 023 88 34702 Email: enterprise@wceb.ie Company Registration: 223808