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August Craft Month launches at the Craft Village in L/Derry
Talk, write, listen or make: get involved in craft this August in the North West. At the launch of the fifth August Craft Month in Northern Ireland, Derry people are being encouraged to join in the conversation.
Derry City Council in partnership with Craft NI have organised a series of events in the city’s Craft Village as part of Craft NI’s annual celebration of Craft. The Craft Village programme is an exciting mix of traditional, contemporary, conceptual, kitch and quirky styles from homegrown and visiting artists.
The theme of this year’s August Craft Month is “Craft Chat” and its aim is to get people thinking about the quality and relevance of craft through discussion, storytelling, poetry and online blogging as well as directly through the objects themselves.
Joe Kelly, Director of Craft NI, explained: “2011 is the Year of Craft and we want to start a conversation about craft and the different ways in which designer-makers create beautiful and unique pieces of art.
“We hope to encourage people to discover craft for themselves – cultural, personal, social and intellectual. It is about sharing information on making and encouraging people to discover the fantastic work that is being fashioned by designer makers throughout Northern Ireland.”
Roisín McDonough, Chief Executive of the Arts Council said: “We are delighted that ‘August Craft Month’, taking place across Northern Ireland, is supporting professional artists whilst allowing more people to become involved in and enjoy the arts.
“The Arts Council of Northern Ireland as the programme’s main funder recognises the potential for craft, creative industry and cultural tourism development.”
Derry City Council Economic Development department is delighted to be supporting August Craft Month: “With local ceramic artist Gail Mahon, we have put together a programme of exhibitions, demonstrations and regular craft workshops for adults and children throughout the entire month of August culminating in “Make Tea & Tell” – a bumper celebration of craft hosted by SEEDs and Craft NI on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th August bank holiday. Craft Month gives local people and visitors to the city the opportunity to experience the vibrant local craft industry as well as affording artists and enthusiasts the opportunity to meet and share skills and ideas.”
Programme highlights include:
You Make My Monday – Craft workshops featuring different designer-makers in the Tower Museum Education Room in Derry every Monday in August from 12noon -4pm
Craft Guerrilla Army - a series of DIY craft sessions on 27 & 28 August at the Craft Village in Derry.
Local Demonstrations - Wednesday afternoons from 12-4pm provide opportunities to see local crafts people including Derry Crystal, Fascinating Rhythm and more demonstrate their work in their own studios and outside in the square at the Craft Village.
Blanket for Rorschach installation by Gail Mahon with local quilt makers at the Tower Museum from 29th August – 3rd September.
Mr Kelly added: “This year’s August Craft Month gives the public a chance to engage directly with designer makers who are creating a dizzying array of imaginative and innovative work. It is a chance to buy something personal, unique and learn about the skill and passion that goes into making high quality craft.”
