Down is celebrating August Craft Month with a series of festivals, events and workshops taking place throughout the month.
One of the highlights is Alchemy – an exhibition of the work of makers currently in the making of the business development programme run by Craft NI and supported the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Invest Northern Ireland. This takes place at Down Arts Centre from August 4-27.
The Essence of Form, which continues throughout August, is an exhibition showcasing Down County Museum’s applied art collection. Collected over 25 years, the exhibition includes ceramics, wood-turning, textiles, silver-smithing and jewellery made by local artists.
Also at Down Arts Centre is the Open Studio event run by its artist-in-residence, potter Helen Faulkner on August 6. There is a chance to have a free go on the potter’s wheel or to have your own pot fired to be collected at a later date for only £8.
A Beginners Glass Painting Workshop takes place at Down Arts Centre with Naomi Whan on August 6 from 1.30pm-4pm. She is also holding a Sewing Machine Basics workshop on the same day from 9.30am to 12.30pm and a Beginners Crochet class on August 13 from 10am to 2.30pm.
On August 27, Naomi is running a Fun With Felt workshop, discovering the joys of ‘painting’ with merino wool from 10am to 1.30pm and a Silk Painting workshop from 2.30pm to 4.30pm.
The 13th Craft Fest, the Craft and Design Collective’s annual celebration of craft, applied art and design, takes place again at Castle Ward on August 13 and 14, featuring craft fairs, demonstrations and an exhibition in the house. There’s plenty of good food to eat too.
On August 27 and 28 there is the fourth annual Benraw Creative Convivium at Turnip House in Castlewellan featuring work by artists and craftspeople in ceramics, felt making, knitwear, jewellery, wood turning and sculpture.
The tenth August Craft Month was launched when celebrated Northern Irish potter Jack Doherty returned to his native land to open August Craft Month 2016 with a major new exhibition on July 28.
Doherty, who has forged a remarkable international reputation from his home in Cornwall, is back in Northern Ireland with ‘Waypoint’ his outstanding solo exhibition at the Market Place Gallery, Armagh.
He said: “I am so excited to be coming home to launch this year’s August Craft Month. It is fitting that it should be in the Market Place Gallery Armagh as I opened my first studio in County Armagh.”
This is one of over 200 craft events taking place across Northern Ireland in August from exhibitions, festivals and workshops, to craft fairs, special artisan markets and art trails, showcasing the best in ceramics, glassmaking, jewellery making, textiles, wood turning and willow making.
And this year, the two festivals of craft, Creative Peninsula and Craft Fest have been joined by a new kid on the block, Creative Coast organised by the Causeway Coast Artists Collective.
The NI Year and Food and Drink is recognised in this year’s programme with a number of craft and food related events.
These include ‘Connections’ at Café Nosh Bistro in Dundonald, a food event showcasing the tableware of ceramicist Andrew Cooke and “Nature to Plate” – a local craft and food demonstration and participation event at Sleepy Hollow Restaurant and Farm Shop in Newtownabbey.
Alan Kane, Chief Executive of Craft NI, who co-ordinates August Craft Month, said the contemporary craft sector continues to grow from strength to strength in Northern Ireland.
He said: “This year’s programme is testament to the incredible diversity and range of talent of Northern Ireland’s contemporary makers. We are delighted that so many artists and venues have signed up for the tenth August Craft Month which promises to be one of the most memorable yet.”
Noirin McKinney, Director of Arts Development, Arts Council of Northern Ireland: added: “Craft NI are back with yet another jam-packed, impressive programme of craft events around the region. Year on year Craft Month has been steadily growing with more and more people taking part. The Arts Council is delighted to support this terrific celebration of craft, which also offers an important platform to showcase the talent of our local craft makers, and we would encourage everyone to get involved in an event near you.”
Grainne McVeigh, Invest NI’s Director of Consumer Products, said: “Craft NI has helped to launch and nurture many successful innovative design-led businesses and its work in building and promoting August Craft Month has created a wonderful platform to highlight our local craft to a growing international audience.”
Highlights of this year’s August Craft Month include:
* R-Space Gallery, Lisburn – Film Makers Five makers will be invited to create new work in response to archive craft heritage footage, which has been digitally preserved by the Digital Film Archive through funding from the BFI.
* making it 2015-17 – Exhibition at Down Arts Centre, Featuring new work being developed by the members of Craft NI’s latest making it business development group.
* Creative Coast – Mini Festival of Craft on the North Coast Organised by Causeway Coast Artists collective, this is a series of great craft workshops for both adults and children.
* HMS Caroline – Craft Workshops A series of workshops for kids and adults on a nautical theme taking place on board the HMS Caroline.
* Craft NI – Patricia van den Akker Workshops
1) Crafting a Brand for You
2) How to Get More Sales Online
* Creative Peninsula – featuring craft fairs, open studios, tours exhibitions etc. on the scenic Ards Peninsula
* Craft Fest – annual celebration of craft, applied art and design at Castleward.
* Digital Textiles Summer School learn how to use the latest digital fabrication technology at the Amma Centre in Armagh.
For full details of all August Craft Month events, visit the Craft NI website:
and click on the August Craft Month section. To find out about all the makers and events in your area, click on the interactive craft map.
