Embrace the Year of Irish Design at Cork Craft Month 

~ Get an exclusive look inside craft­makers studios, visit craft workshops, 

curated gallery events and much more during Cork Craft Month this August~

Celebrate the Year of Irish Design and head to Cork this August for Cork Craft Month, in association with Cork Craft and Design, from August 4^th to September 5th 2015.

Now in its sixth year, Cork Craft Month has become a haven for celebrating creativity, and is one of the key events taking place in Ireland for the Irish Year of Irish Design.

Cork Craft Month is supported by Cork city and county Local Enterprise Offices, Cork County Arts Office, Fáilte Ireland and the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland.  The month long series will feature exhibitions, curated gallery events, workshops, demos, and pop-up shops.  You will also have the opportunity to get an exclusive look inside craft-makers studios at open events, or take in the quality and variety of Cork’s vibrant craft and design scene on a ‘Made in Cork Trail’ throughout the city and county. A diverse range of craft and design will be available to view and purchase, from ethically sourced furniture to textiles, jewellery, ceramics, metalwork, glass and wood. 

Tony Farrell, Chairman of Cork Craft and Design is looking forward to the group’s flagship month, saying “Cork Craft Month makes craft accessible to all, and we expect the Year of Irish Design will further increase the general appreciation for the skill and artistry that goes into making these unique locally made products.  Over 50,000 visitors will come to Cork over the month, and this flagship event series will significantly boosts sales for local producers.”

Some of the highlights of this year’s Cork Craft Month include:

• The TIME Exhibition in Kinsale is the Annual Showcase Exhibition for Cork Craft and Design and is a highlight of the creative calendar, promoting both established and emerging makers. Curated by Fergal O’ Leary, the exhibition focuses on the time it takes each artist to learn and realize their work and will take place in the James O’ Neill Building (Formerly the Old Mill), Kinsale, Co. Cork from 5 to 14 August.

• The Home Event will take place in the James O’ Neill Building in Kinsale from 19August to 5 September. This extra special craft event is a haven for handmade items for the home including furniture, textiles, ceramics, woodturning and framed pieces to suit all budgets and tastes. This is an ideal opportunity to pick up locally made items to enhance your home or as a special gift for someone else. 

• ADORN, meaning to make more beautiful or attractive, is the title of an exciting exhibition of jewellery, millinery, scarfs, bags and belts from Cork’s best designer makers. Taking place in The Courtyard Gallery (Above Sage Restaurant), Main St. Midleton, Co. Cork, this is not to be missed by the fashion conscious. 

• Cork Craft and Design, Shop and Exhibition Space is open Monday to Saturday 10am to 6pm and 11am to 5pm on Sundays. Located in Douglas Village Shopping Centre (adjacent to M&S) this ongoing exhibition of Cork Craft and Design members work is located in a bright contemporary space providing an opportunity to meet and talk to the makers about their products and inspirations.

• Several more fascinating exhibitions will take place in both Cork City and locations in East and West Cork throughout the month, see event programme for full details. 

• The hugely popular ‘Made in Cork Trails’ will give members of the public the opportunity to get a panoramic view of the best in Cork Craft at art galleries, shops and studios all across the county.   

• Meanwhile The Open Studio 2015 Trail of artists’ studios, across Cork City and County is a great way of exploring Cork’s diverse natural beauty while taking in its talented artists and artisans in their own creative space. Trail members include Bookbinding, Potters, Silversmiths, Sculptors, Furniture makers, Boatbuilding, Glass and Textile Artists and many, many more. Refer to the event programme for full details of Open Studio descriptions, dates and locations and whether you can pop along off the cuff or by appointment. 

• Finally there will also be a comprehensive selection of workshops and demonstrations where you can meet the makers and create your own craft piece at a selection of free events and fee paying courses:

Workshops include:

• A 3 Day Introduction to Woodcarving with Ben Russell, Kealkil, Bantry, West Cork 24 to 26 July (€320).
• Porcelain Workshop at the studio of Sara Roberts, near Kinsale, Co. Cork 22 August 10am-4pm including home cooked lunch (€150).
• Weekend Introduction to Ceramics Workshop with Adrian Wistreich 21 to 24 August at Ballinacurra House, Kinsale. This 2 day course introduces basic techniques such as how to coil, slab and throw pots and how to sculpt in clay. (€295, includes materials and firings).
• The Summer Art & Crafts Workshop for Kids aged 5-12 runs at Ballinacurra House on 10, 11, 13, 14 August between 10am-4pm. The camp is both fun and educational, and features everything from pottery to tie dye, to theatre building, paper marbling. (€35 for One Day or €120 for 4 days).

For booking details on all of the above workshops, see the event calendar on corkcraftanddesign.com.

It is hoped that with 2015 being the year of Irish Year of Design, an extra spotlight will shine on the vibrant craft community in Cork, which is going from strength to strength, with support from Cork Craft and Design. With over 120 dedicated and passionate professional craft-makers taking part, there really is something for everyone.

For full schedule of events throughout Cork Craft Month see www.corkcraftanddesign.com or www.facebook.com/corkcraftdesign or follow @corkcraftdesign on twitter.

Cork Craft Month 2015 is organised by Cork Craft and Design (representing over 120 craftspeople in Cork County) with thanks to the Local Enterprise Office, Cork County Arts Office, Fáilte Ireland and the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland for their funding and support.

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For more information, to receive details of specific events or to set up interviews with craft professionals involved in Cork Craft Month contact:

Niamh Murphy niamh@hopkinscommunications.ie

Clair Collins clair@hopkinscommunications.ie

Hopkins Communications

021 4272200

Editors Notes

About Cork Craft & Design:

Cork Craft Month is organised by Cork Craft & Design (CCD) a voluntary organization of Cork crafts persons. As an umbrella group for professional craft makers in Cork, their goal is to make Cork City and County a recognised centre of excellence for making, seeing, collecting, buying and learning about contemporary craft.

The Cork craft industry sector includes ceramics, glass, jewellery, textiles, furniture and many more. Cork craft businesses are mainly small in scale and geographically widespread. The industry is a significant employer, providing viable, sustainable enterprises around the county, including in rural communities deemed unsuitable by other manufacturing sectors.