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SHOWCASE 1995 RESULTS

The President, Mary Robinson and

the Minister for Enterprise &

Employment, Mr. Richard Bruton,

were amongst those who attended

SHOWCASE '95 at the RDS.

Preliminary reports to date from

exhibitors and buyers alike are very

encouraging. A questionnaire is

currently being sent to all

participants and the results in terms

of sales and jobs created will be

known in the next few months.

The organisers are confident that the

results will be even better than last

year with many exhibitors reporting

increased orders. A number of

knitwear exhibitors say they

received orders which will keep

them busy up to June and July and

orders for other exhibitors were still

being written even after the Show

had officially closed.

It is thought that domestic buyers

numbers were similar to last year

but overseas numbers were up

considerably.

The participants from the Craft &

Design Business Development

Course in Kilkenny have already

done their analysis of SHOWCASE

'95 and report that orders for their

work were up by over 35% on last

year. They note that all the Crescent

Mr Cyril Forbes, Chairman, The Crafts Council of Ireland with the Minister for

Enterprise & Employment, Mr Richard Bruton TD at Showcase '95. Also

pictured is a Mark English ceramic bowl.

exhibitors did improved business,

not just one or two.

Each discipline experienced a rise

in sales particularly printed textiles

which has steadily climbed over the

past two to three years.

The closing of SHOWCASE '95

marked the last SHOWCASE for

Sean O'Farrell, Crafts Development

Officer, The Crafts Council.

Sean is retiring in the near future and

to mark the occasion and give his

many friends from SHOWCASE an

opportunity to say "Au Revoir" (and

embarrass him of course) a surprise

party, co-hosted by Showcase

organisers Eurofairs, was held in

Paddy Cullens pub in Ballsbridge.

Everyone who was anyone attended

and Sean didn't even need the

money he'd borrowed from petty

cash earlier that evening to pay for

"a quiet drink"!

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New opportunities for craftworkersat the Cill Rialaig Project atBallinskelligs, Co. Kerry. Alreadypopular with artists, 26 havingvisited and worked there during thelast year. Phase 2 of the projectwill be in operation by June '95with the construction of Siopa CillRialaig and Artworks Village. Theaim of the project is to promoteonce off craftwork and to bridge thegap in people's perception of theartist and the craftworker.Anyone interested in promoting theirwork there or visiting the projectshould contact:- Penny Wray at066 79297/9260

Workshop:-Craft studio availableat the Grain Store, Ballyduff Upper,Co. Waterford.For further information contact:-Susan McCarthy 058-56409

Interested in Internet as a vehicle toreach audiences especially theUSA. contact:-John O'Sullivan,Internet Publishing 01-2802506

For Sale:-A Centrifuge Machine, oneyear old, as new. Centricast 200 (acomplete system to cast pewter). Avariety of other mould makingmaterial is on offer. Offers in theregion of £1,000 will beconsidered.Contact:- Deirdre at 027-73148

For Sale:-Electric Pottery Wheel,cone-drive, metal frame, excellentcondition, £320 o.n.o.Contact:- Patricia, Tel. 01-2874751 .

For Sale:-Top Loading, Electric Kiln,4.3 cubic feet, as new withlimitronic plus controller, set of kilnshelves and props.Contact:- Martina Carroll, 62,Claremount Park, Rathoan,Galway.

Summer Workshops:-"Through theplasticity of Metal"Eight two week workshops insilversmithing and jewellery.(May - September)Tutor:- Brian ClarkePlace:- The Old Schoolhouse,Ballinaclash, Rathdrum, Co.Wicklow.Contact:- Tel./Fax. -353-404-46385

Strokestown Park House- Garden Seating

The largest garden restoration in Irelandis taking place at Strokestown ParkHouse, Co. Roscommon, where there isalso the museum commemorating theGreat Irish Famine.

There is a need in the 41 /2 acre walledpleasure garden for seats and benches ina variety of locations and a variety ofmaterials, and Strokestown Park Househave asked the Council to advise themon commissioning craftworkers.

We are reviewing the Register and theslide files of furniture makers, but if youwould like to be considered and wedon't already have up to dateinformation, please get it to us by 15thMarch.

The ManagementCommittee 1994

Chair Mr. Cyril ForbesVice Chair Ms. Hilary PrattMr. Ed KevinMs. Suzanne MayMr. Michael McCroryMr. Rudolf HeltzelDr. David Shaw-SmithMs. Breda HaughMs. Knut KlimmekMr. David HargadenMr. Brendan FloodMr. Neil ReadMs. Kaethe Burt-O'DeaMs. Mary JacksonMs. Bernadette Madden

Crafts Council Staff

DublinChief ExecutiveCraft Development OfficerAdministrative OfficerAdministrative AssistantTelephonist/Receptionist

Gallery AdministratorExhibitions AssistantRetail ManagerShop Assistant (PT)

Christine RossVacant

Margaret JonesVacant

Susan Byrne/Michelle French

VacantCatherine Jordan

Hilary MorleySally Dunne

The Crescent WorkshopTraining and Education OfficerSupervisor/Information OfficerAdministrative Assistant

Leslie ReedEmer Ferran

Nuala McGrath

Thomastown Pottery Skills CourseTrainer Gus Mabelson

The Crafts Counciof Ireland

DublinPowerscourt Townhouse Centre

South William Street,

Dublin 2

Tel. 01 679 7368

Fax. 01 679 9197

KilkennyThe Crescent Workshop,

Castle Yard

Kilkenny

Tel. 056 61 804 or 62734Fax. 056 63754

Jewellery Design and ProductionSkills CourseTrainer Jane Huston

CAD/CAM Training for the IrishKnitwear IndustryCoordinator Julie Griffith

All information is published in good faith but without research, so please check carefully before committing yourself to work or financial outlay

Please forward all information to Emer FerranThe copy date for the next issue is 7th April. The Print date is 21st April

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Jewellery &MetalworkersGuild Handbook'95

The 1995 Jewellers & Metalworkers

Guild handbook is a

comprehensive introduction to the

Guild, its history, its membership

and, most importantly, it provides a

guide to the outlets where the

LEAVING THE LASTWORD TO SEAN

My first thought when I look back at

over fourteen years with the Crafts

Council? It has to be how quickly it

all went. That must say something

about the job and those involved in

the craft sector.

What would be the landmarks that

stand out in my mind? I think the

three events that had the most

positive impact on the role of the

Crafts Council were:- the setting up

of the Business Skills Course in

Kilworth in 1981; giving the

organising of SHOWCASE to

Eurofairs in 1988 and the move to

Powerscourt Townhouse.

The current success of the training

courses in Kilkenny owe much to the

vision of Frank Sutton in establishing

a business course for young

craftworkers in the old Market House

in Kilworth. I bet there are some

craftspeople today who look back

with some affection on their time in

Kilworth. It is one of the best things

the Council has done.

I remember my first Irish Crafts Trade

Fair in 1981. There were 170

exhibitors in part of the Industries

Hall. It is hard to credit how much it

has grown in recent years. In 1995 -

there were 580 exhibitors. In fact

sales from 1988 to 1994 have

increased by 157%. It was in 1988

that Eurofairs first organised

SHOWCASE on behalf of the Crafts

Council and it must be said that a

very large part of the subsequent

success has been due to the very

professional and imaginative

member's work is available.

The Guild Handbook contains high

quality black and white prints of the

work of the craftspeople and will be

of particular interest to tourists and

those who collect contemporary

Irish jewellery. Those in possession

of the Handbook are left with no

excuses whatsoever as the Guild

have even gone to the trouble of

reproducing a map of Ireland with

the retail outlets marked!

The Handbook is on sale at the

Jewellery and Metalworkers Guild

Headquarters in the Enterprise

Centre in Pearse Street, Dublin; in

Bord Failte offices around the

country; large hotels and all amjor

bookshops.

A lot of work was obviously put in

to co-ordinating and finshing the

Handbook and it's an excellent

example of co-operative marketing.

Well done to the Guild!

For further information contact

Attracta Madden or Erica Marks at

(01)6716263

Mr. Sean O'Farrell, Craft Development Officer, The Crafts Council of Ireland

presentation of the show by Gerry

Murphy and his team. I certainly

have enjoyed working with them.

In many ways the move to

Powerscourt Townhouse Centre was

almost a culture shock to the staff of

the Council after the splendid

isolation of Thomas Prior House. It

was at this time that the general

public became aware of the

existence of the Crafts Council and

of the wealth of excellent craftwork

being produced in this country.

Most of all I remember the

colleagues I worked with, who

provided me with great support and

not a little laughter over the years.

And the craftspeople themselves? I

would like to think I have made

many friends amongst them and I

certainly enjoyed working with

them. If the next part of my career

is as good as this past one I will

indeed be lucky.

TRIBUTE

Everyone associated with the Crafts

Council wishes Sean and Ann

O'Farrell a long and happy

retirement. Sean will continue his

association by providing

consultancy on a regular basis.

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ChristmasCalculations

Hilary Morley, Retail Manager, hasput together the following analysisof the Christmas Exhibition saleswhich may provide some food forthought for exhibitors.

• Opening the exhibition in earlyNovember, with a burst ofpublicity in the national media,proved very beneficial andresulted in a 90% increase insales on the November '93figures.

Sunday opening from the endof November was also veryhelpful to sales.

• The increased sale of Corporatepresentation gifts for Christmasappears to have been a directspin-off of the Corporate GiftsExhibition which was held inOctober.

Sales analysis shows that lessthan 2% of sales at Christmaswere in large items retailing atover £400. Having said that,they prove extremely popularwith visitors to the Gallery andare often the cause of returnvisits by the same peoplebringing friends in to see BrianQuill's hanging chairs orMichael Bell's railway sleeperchair.

The mid-range items between£100 and £400 soldreasonably well particularlyjewellery, wall hangings andtextile embroideries.

Sales in this price bracketamounted to just under 10% ofthe total.

However 90% of all salestransactions occurred in the'under £100' price bracket. Thebreakdown was as follows:

Crafts CouncilFOCUS on FLOORSSeminar and WorkshopsCarysfort College, Blackrock,Co.Dublin.Supported by the Nova Programmeof the European Commission

The Seminar;"Speaking of Floors"25th & 26th March 1995

A seminar on contemporaryattitudes to designing, making andmarketing carpets, rugs, mats andother floor coverings, made by handor machine for today's interiors andlooking at methods of craftproduction for the future.

Speakers will include: Ann Sutton,Diane Sheehan, Peta Levi, TonyDixon, Julia Burrowes, PeterCollingwood, Roger Oates, SamStephenson and Ann Brooks.

The Workshop;"Ideas in Flooring"27th-31st March 1995

Leaders: Ann Sutton, Diane Sheehanand Julia Burrowes.This is an intensive, five day session,

for makers of rugs who want to openup their approach to designing,colouring, patterning or un-patterningtheir floor coverings. It willencourage fresh thinking towardsmaterials and construction. Theapproach will be to break withtechnique-driven design in favour ofmuch more spontaneous attitudes.

For further details please contact:Catherine Jordan on 01-679 7368.

The Potters ChoiceExhibition - 9th March - 29th April1995The Crafts Council Gallery

This is an exhibition based on theprivate collections of several pottersliving in Ireland. The selection rangesfrom eighteenth century Englishteapots to avant garde ceramics of the1970's and 80's. Included are AfricanVillage pottery, European countryware, and pots made by both modernindustry and studio craft potters.

For further details please contact: PeterLambe or Catherine on 01-679 7368

Price

£0£5£10£20£40£60£80

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£5£10£20£40£60£80£100

Sales

3%17.5%20%38%12.5%4.5%4.5%

From this it can be seen thatitems between £10 and £40proved particularly successful.Ceramic wall planters, turnedwood and silk scarves were themain items of interest.

* Following publicity in theSunday Tribune in the run up toChristmas, stocking fillers andChristmas decorations sold verywell.

Hope this helps those planning toexhibit next Christmas.

Sonia Reynolds wearing silver necklace bySeamus Gill and hand painted silk wrap byMel Bradley at Showcase '95

Exploring the LatheExhibition - 1 Oth May - 24th June1995Crafts Council GalleryAn exhibition of the work of invitedmakers working in different media,whose common ground is the use ofthe lathe.

For further details please contact:Sean McCrum or Catherine on 01-679 7368