August Craft Month
August Craft Month
August Craft Month is Northern Ireland’s unique celebration of the craft sector and takes place each year, providing opportunities for the public to experience, participate in, buy and learn about Craft. August Craft Month works to increase the public’s understanding and appreciation of craft by shining a spotlight on local talented makers, venues and the joy of making.
In 2023, Craft NI, the Design & Crafts Council Ireland and Cork Craft and Design came together to support the promotion and communications of all events across the island taking part, resulting in the largest August Craft Month to date with 421 events in total across the island.
Who will attend August Craft Month?
Who can have an event included?
How will we promote your events?
Who will attend August Craft Month?
August Craft Month is for makers, communities, families, collectors, and enthusiasts. We want to work with the sector to promote your craft talks; open studios; craft trails; exhibitions; workshops; Meet the Maker events; How-Tos and Try-Outs.
Who can have an event included?
We welcome event applications from;
- individual craft makers,
- Guilds and networks
- Galleries, retailers and museums
- Councils and arts centres, cultural venues
- FE & HE institutions and crafts educators
- Heritage organisations
Please take some time to read through the following documents:
How will we promote your events?
- PR and regular news releases throughout the summer
- Social media channels
- An advertising campaign
- Maker and event profiles; regular spotlights on disciplines, areas or key dates
This year we are delighted to be working once again in partnership with Cork Craft and Design and the Design & Crafts Council Ireland to promote all craft events on the island through a joint campaign.
Why should you take part?
- Benefit from campaign advertising which will highlight August Craft Month and your craft business to buyers and collectors through radio broadcasts, social media, and national and regional news. In 2023 this included coverage highlights in Belfast Telegraph, BBC Radio, Irish Country Magazine, BCC Radio Ulster, BBC Sounds, Irish Daily Mail, Irish Examiner, the Ulster Tatler and more.
- In 2023 the combined daily reach of August Craft Month’s media campaign across both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland was 57,769,733.
How can venues take part?
Are you interested in taking part in August Craft Month? Do you have venue space that would be suitable for workshops, talks, demonstrations or more and would like to highlight this space for practicing makers to use? We can help! In the run up to August Craft Month, Craft NI can provide a Spotlight on your Venue through an open call for practicing makers. We can advertise this opportunity through our website, social media platforms and newsletters which in total has potential to reach over 27,297. Find out more here.
August Craft Month Exhibition
The August Craft Month Exhibition takes place each August at the Craft NI gallery and features some of the best in contemporary craft. As part of August Craft Month, this exhibition aims to celebrate and profile the craft sector in Northern Ireland.
Each year we are extremely grateful to the former Guild of Northern Ireland Designer Makers (The Guild) who have given us a legacy gift for the development and promotion of the craft sector in Northern Ireland, providing five prizes for the exhibition. The prizes available include;
1st Prize: £500
2 x Commended: £250 each
2 x Emerging Maker prizes: £500 each for makers who have been practicing for five years or less.
Find out more about the August Craft Month Exhibition, here.
Participant Testimonials
“Very beneficial for getting new audiences interested in the Arts who otherwise might not have engaged if it were not for Aug Craft Month”
“We benefit as visitors are finding us through channels otherwise not used”
“Participants at the workshop have already booked on my next workshop”
“August Craft month was an excellent opportunity to highlight local creatives on a much larger platform”
“August Craft Month has proved to be a valuable opportunity for further integrating into our local community”
“the past few years have been difficult for makers so I want to convey my huge thanks for your support and promotion of my events”
If you have any questions or want to discuss potential events and ideas for August Craft Month 2024, please get in touch with Craft Development Officer, Lorna Towns at lorna.towns@craftni.org or call us at 028 9032 9342.
