Today (17th April 2019), Form, County Carlow’s designers, makers and craftspeople cluster unveiled its supported programme for 2019 in partnership with Carlow County Council’s – Local Enterprise Office.
The programme of activities for 2019 will include showcase exhibitions at Kilkenny Arts Festival & Wexford Opera Festival which are designed to showcase County Carlow’s innovative designers and makers to international audiences.
FORM is a group of designer makers and craftspeople living and working in the Carlow region of Ireland. The aim of the group is to raise the profile of designer makers and craftspeople producing high quality work in County Carlow and provide a forum for the exchange of views, common objectives, collective activities, constructive criticism and feedback amongst highly skilled designer makers and craftspeople.
Speaking about the programme and support Liga Valge, Chairperson of Form said “we are delighted as a group to work with the support of Carlow County Council’s – Local Enterprise Office in putting forward these two exhibitions” , Liga continued to say “working as a collective allows for natural innovation by professional sharing and feedback and then providing an opportunity for professional showcasing of the many different disciplines of design and craft in County Carlow”
Speaking about the supports to the Design & Craft Sector, Pauline Hoctor, Senior Enterprise Development Officer said “we are delighted to once again work with Form as part of our programme of activities for 2019 in support of the professional design and craft sector”, Hoctor continued to say “in addition to the support to Form this year we will be rolling out a Design & Craft Development programme which is designed to incite and develop a path of sustainability and innovation for our design and craft community who participate”, Hoctor concluded by saying “those supported are capped off with the opportunity to showcase their product ranges at the Local Enterprise Showcase at Showcase in the RDS in January 2020 to an international audience”.
Supporting these sectors is of paramount importance to Chief Executive of Carlow County Council, Kathleen Holohan who said “while County Carlow has a significant base and international reputation for manufacturing we also have a wealth of cultural talent which utilises our natural environment to create unique product ranges that tell the story of the maker and the County as an area in Ireland’s Ancient East”, Holohan continued to say “consumers really treasure products that are made by hand and that tell a unique story and we should be deeply inspired by people who have the passion and determination to make this art into a living”, Holohan concluded by saying “we in Carlow County Council are committed to supporting the creative sector and our county’s local, national and international appeal as a location of innovation, ambition and success”.
Further details on form can be found on www.formcarlow.com
