Feature Feature
agency partners and eventually have all of our registered craftmaker or retail outlets offer that option, but for the most
craft enterprises featured on film. part I think the web is being used as a promotional rather
than selling tool. Some craftspeople are avid bloggers
and I know that some of our guild members use blogs all
How will success be measured for the CCoI and
the time to communicate and share information.
for these crafts people?
In a variety of ways. The movies can be viewed through
the CCoI or Showcase websites and are also featured
Can you tell us a little about the Irish art tour
on YouTube so we will get to track the number of online scheduled for May?
viewers that way. Stories in the Making are used in craft
AmericanStyle magazine are organising the tour and
retail outlets to educate both retailers and consumers,
we have been working closely with them. Participating
and some of the participating craft makers are using their
collectors will have the opportunity to meet some of
own movie for self-promotion and commercial use. Fáilte
Ireland’s leading designers and craftmakers during their
Ireland also see the movies as a key marketing tool for
trip which will include stops in Dublin, Kilkenny, Waterford,
cultural tourism. Ultimately the success of the initiative will
Cork and Belfast, with studio visits and demonstrations
be measured in greater awareness of the wonderful range
involving several of our registered craft makers. The Crafts
of crafts being produced here in Ireland and increased
Council of Ireland will also be hosting the group at a
sales, so we’ll be keeping in close contact with retailers
reception in the National Craft Gallery here in Kilkenny so
and the craftspeople to monitor both.
I’m looking forward to meeting all the collectors then and
hearing about their impressions of Irish craft. At the end of
How has globalisation affected Irish crafters?
March I’ll also be meeting with a group of craft retailers
from NACTA (North American Celtic Trade Association)
Globalisation and the rapid changes in the economy
who are including a visit to Kilkenny in their tour of Ireland.
have presented particular challenges for craft enterprises.
The consumer has high expectations in terms of quality,
R
ecently the Irish Quilting panel members style and value and the current marketplace offers more How large is the Collectors’ Club, and are there
took to the road. Settling in for lunch at the choice and variety than ever before. The impact of well textile collectors?
Kilkenny Design Centre, we opened our session, designed, low cost imports on Irish craft continues to be
Álainn was established as a place where admirers (often
welcoming the team from the Craft Council of a major threat so craftspeople need to have a very good
collectors) of contemporary craft would be facilitated to
Ireland, based at Castle Yard, Kilkenny.
Kilke
nny C
astle
Yard
is a d
eli
understand of their target markets and then use their
meet makers, attend exhibitions, private craft collections
j
g
o
h
u
t
r
f
n
u
e
l
y of c
rafts a
nd ta
lent. P
creative abilities to develop products with compelling
The Crafts Council of Ireland works with more than h
ic
e
t
r
u
e
r
e
w
d and talks, and discuss their own collections of craft. It is still
i
th Bre
da O
’Don
ohoe consumer appeal. However, we’re remaining optimistic.
1700 makers to support and promote the crafts of
a
’s
c
q
o
u
n
il
t
t
e
is
mpor
ary w
very much in its infancy and there is further development
oode
n cha
b
i
y
r
c
w
a
o
rv
o
e Historically sales of craft increase in a recession so I think
Ireland. Most recently they have launched Stories in the
d
d
turnin
g art
ist Lia
m O
work planned for this year. A big focus will be placed on
C
’N
ou
e
n
il
t
l
y G
of
alwa
y.
we need to focus on the opportunities that the current
opening exposure to the many beautiful objects currently
Making, a high profile campaign working to promote
economy presents. There’s a growing interest and respect
being made by Irish makers which may not be that
the crafts people and arts of Ireland. On this day, we for products that are hand made, individually crafted and
well known to collectors. In terms of what the members
were delighted to learn more about Crafts Council and
commissioned a series of documentaries on traditional Irish
unique, and choosing to source local work means that
collect we are aware that many collectors collect across
what’s happening in the world of Irish crafts...
crafts and lifestyles, and the emphasis was on the skills of
you’re doing your bit to help local businesses stay afloat
all disciplines, and through our survey of members to be
during the economic down turn. The cautious purchasing
human hands rather than on machines. It is a wonderful
carried out shortly we aim to identify exactly what craft
trends of the current recession include consumers choosing
Congratulations on the series of movies launched
series called Hands which continues to be rerun but there
disciplines members collect.
to invest carefully in well-made objects made to last and
at Showcase 2009...
hasn’t been anything similar since. Stories in the Making
gave us the opportunity to document a new generation of
which will become family treasures.
Thank you. We were delighted to be able to launch Stories
Is there any one fact that might surprise our
craft makers and the uniqueness of Irish crafted design on
in the Making at the trade fair in January while there were
film.
readers about Ireland’s craftmakers?
so many buyers from around the world in Dublin. Our
Are Irish crafters embracing the Internet? I.e.,
What might surprise people is the diversity of backgrounds
objective was to bring about a greater awareness of
doing business online?
of those working in the craft industry. Men and women
the talent and expertise of today’s Irish craft makers and Have you many more Stories in the Making
Yes, many are. What we’ve found is that most initial
who are perhaps working in a completely different career
crafted design. Each short film profiles a different craft planned?
purchases of a particular craft will be made either in a
but have always had an artistic eye and a passion for
maker who talks about their sources of inspiration, their
The 15 mini movies launched at Showcase were part of a
retail outlet or at a craft maker’s studio where the customer
creating something with their hands are continually moving
passion for their chosen craft and the process involved in
pilot project. Our intention is to further extend the Stories
gets to connect with the product – to see the detail and
into the craft sector and the business experience they may
making beautifully functional objects. In the late 70s, RTE
in the Making initiative with support from our enterprise
feel the quality. Follow-on sales are often online if the
have gathered up until then can really stand to them in
IrIsh QuIltIng Volume I Issue 3
46 47
IrIsh QuIltIng Volume I Issue 3
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