Craft NI

Adam Frew: pottery demonstration evening
2026-06-24 19:30 - 21:00 (Europe/London) | Adam Frew Studio, 21 Cullycapple Park, Aghadowey, BT51 4AS, United Kingdom
Come along to Adam’s pottery studio in Aghadowey for an evening of demonstrations and refreshments. Adam will be showing how he throws his unique porcelain pots on the potter’s wheel, as well as decorating them in his signature painterly style.
Participants will be able to relax watching him make while enjoying tea or coffee and some home baked treats. There will also be the opportunity to view and purchase pots.
Booking is essential by purchasing a ticket – see link below.

Natural Colour and Dyeing Workshop
2026-06-27 10:00 - 16:00 | Mourne Textiles, 86 Killowen Old Road, Rostrevor, BT34 3AE
Mourne Textiles is running two hands-on workshops over the last weekend in June. The workshops are suitable for everyone; textile lovers and enthusiasts, those wanting a taster of weaving on a four shaft table loom, as well as anyone drawn to working with natural colour and fibres. No prior experience is required.
At the natural colour and dyeing workshop on Saturday, Kathryn Davey will take you on a short walk to Carlingford Lough to forage for seasonal dye plants. Back at the mill, you will be shown the process of natural dyeing and how to achieve consistent vibrant colours on woven samples.

Handloom Weaving Workshop
2026-06-28 10:00 - 16:00 | Mourne Textiles, 86 Killowen Old Road, Rostrevor, BT34 3AE
Mourne Textiles are running two hands-on workshops over the last weekend in June. The handloom weaving workshop on the Sunday will start with an introduction from Mario Sierra and Karen Hay-Edie demonstrating the loom setup, basic weaving techniques, and how to integrate colour, texture, and composition. You will be able to use the yarns and fleece available in the mill. At the end of the workshop, you will take home a small woven wall hanging or sample for a larger future project.

Throwing Masterclass: Plates
2026-07-04 10:00 - 13:30 | Belfast Ceramics Studio, Unit 10E Owen O'Cork Mill, 288 Beersbridge Road, Belfast, Antrim, BT55DX, United Kingdom
This masterclass covers what makes a good plate, plate design, what restaurants look for in plates, and the biggest pitfalls and challenges in making plates (and how to overcome them). Kat will demonstrate the throwing of a contemporary-style plate and share some advanced techniques and tips. After that, it’s your turn to take a seat behind the wheel. The Masterclass ends with a 30-minute trimming demo and room for Q&A. This Masterclass is for Intermediate and Advanced students and is not suitable for Beginners. Participants are expected to be able to centre 4lbs (2kg) of clay and throw consistent cylinders.

Pottery Throwing Class
2026-07-04 14:00 - 16:30 | James & The Kiln, 90d Carryduff Rd, The Temple, Lisburn, BT27 6YL, United Kingdom
Join James Stanley Watson in his studio for a throwing workshop.
Workshops are relaxed, hands-on pottery sessions suited to anyone curious about clay, whether they are a complete beginner or keen to build confidence on the wheel.
Participants will be guided through each stage of the process – from centring and opening the clay, to pulling up walls and shaping their own forms. Expect a mix of demonstration, guidance, and plenty of time to practise.
By the end of the session, each participant will have created their own pieces to be dried, fired, and glazed, ready to collect at a later date. One piece is included in the price, with any additional pieces available for £5 each.
Please note this workshop is not suitable for people under 16 years old.

Seaside Ceramic Wall Art
2026-07-18 10:30 - 12:30 | Flowerfield Arts Centre, 185 Coleraine Road, Portstewart, BT55 7HU, United Kingdom
Using simple hand-building techniques, participants will shape and decorate a shoal of handmade ceramic fish, drawing inspiration from the colours, textures, and movement of the sea to create their own seaside inspired ceramic wall artwork.
Please note this workshop is only suitable for those aged 18 or older.

Rhythm
2026-07-23 10:00 - 17:00 | Craft NI Gallery, 115 - 119 Royal Ave, Belfast, BT1 1FF, United Kingdom
Rhythm, the 2026 August Craft Month Exhibition, opens at Craft NI Gallery July 23rd!
The 2026 August Craft Month Exhibition will feature contemporary craft works that highlight the connections between making and music, traditional or contemporary. As Belfast is getting ready to host the annual Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, local designer makers share with us how music, with its rhythms, harmonies or lyrics inform their making.

Participating makers: Adam Frew, Celine Traynor, Corinne Price, Eddie Doherty, Eimear Malone, Fiona Kerr, Hannah Ferguson, Joel Smyth, John Piekaar, Karen Hamilton, Kevin Callaghan, Natasha Heaslip, Nicola dalton, Peter Meanley, Stuart Cairns, Sue Cathcart, Tamzen Lundy, Ursula McGivern.

Printing on Clay
2026-08-16 13:00 - 16:00 | Belfast Ceramics Studio, Unit 10E Owen O'Cork Mill, 288 Beersbridge Road, Belfast, Antrim, BT55DX, United Kingdom
All the way from Missouri, Julie Simon will join Belfast Ceramics Studio to lead this hands-on workshop. Julie will guide a step-by-step process for painting and transferring custom-designed paper images onto leather-hard clay surfaces.

Moon Jars and Bowls Workshop
2026-08-28 10:00 - 2026-08-29 16:00 | Adam Frew Studio, 21 Cullycapple Park, Aghadowey, BT51 4AS, United Kingdom
Join Adam Frew for a 2 day throwing workshop – classes will be small groups of 5-7 students, suitable for intermediate and advanced levels. The emphasis of the class will be on using the potter’s wheel to make bowls and moon jars in porcelain. Students will be guided through the basics of throwing these forms and also turning their pots. Adam will demonstrate his various decoration techniques and students will be encouraged to be experimental in their approach.
Finished pieces will be glaze fired in the gas kiln and ready 3-4 weeks after the course for collection, or shipping can be arranged.
This 2 day course will run from 10am – 4pm. Tea and coffee is provided and a simple lunch of soup and bread .

Basket Making
2026-09-19 10:00 - 16:30 | Island Arts Centre, The Island, Lisburn, BT27 4RL, United Kingdom
Beginners will learn from Welig Heritage Crafts’ expert basket maker and return home with their own beautiful handmade basket.

Make a John Surlis Leitrim Chair
2026-10-03 10:00 - 2026-10-11 18:00 | Green Woodwork Ireland Workshop, Minnowburn, Ballynahatty Rd, Belfast, Minnowburn, BT8 8LG
The Leitrim Chair is a traditional Irish Hedge Chair last produced by John Surlis in the 1980s. John was a skilled carpenter who mastered a craft that had been in his family for 400 years, distinctly traceable for 6 generations.
In this 4 day workshop, Stephen Ryan from Green Woodwork Ireland will teach participants the skills needed to produce their own Leitrim Chair using the same traditional techniques as John used during his life.
Participants will use traditional tools and equipment to cleave and shape wood that will then be assembled using round mortise and tenons secured with Oak wedges, typical of old Irish furniture, completed with a finish of linseed oil and beeswax.
This course is suited to all levels including complete beginners.
