The CCoI Irish Craft Bursary is awarded to professional craftspeople to support the creative development of their craft to enable new opportunities in their practice.

Applications for Bursary 2011

Bursary 2011 offers a prize fund of €10,000 awarded to a maker who demonstrates a commitment to producing craftwork that illustrates the attainment of the highest level of technical and design skill. The objective of the bursary is to give one or more makers the opportunity to develop a body of work that they would otherwise not have the time or resources to develop. Expressions of interest are welcomed from makers who feel this award would be of benefit to the development of their work.
Closing date for completed applications is October 1st 2010.Selection will take place in October and the announcement of successful applicant(s) will be made in early November.

Irish Craft Portfolio was established to to ‘promote the work of individuals showing excellence in craftsmanship at an international level’. Since its establishment it has represented the work of an  increasing number of craftspeople who aim to produce high quality  limited edition and one off craftwork for the commissioning and gallery market. There are currently over forty craftspeople represented by the initiative.

Makers interested in applying for the 2011 selection should contact Des Doyle, Collector Programme Manager for an application form.

Closing date for completed applications is October 1st 2010. Selection will take place in October and announcement of successful applicants will be made in November 2010.

Further details from Des Doyle, Collector Programme and Craft Tourism Manager

 des@ccoi.ie or telephone 056 77 96137

6th-15th August 2010 

Craft Exhibitions at the National Craft Gallery
6th August 2010  -  20th October 2010

Gallery 1 – Mah Rana ‘Jewellery is Life’
Gallery 2 – ‘Embracing Technology’

For more information and exhibition images click here.

Education and Outreach Events at NCG:
* Fri 6th - Sun 15th Aug 11 am: Free gallery tours daily - and thereafter, every Tue and Thur at 11 am    
* Sun 8th Aug 2pm: Public talk - Curator Angela O’Kelly and participating artists    
* Tue 10th - Thur 12th Aug 2-4 pm:  Children’s workshops (booking required)    
* Late Date: 27th Aug 6-8 pm: Discussing creativity and technology    
* Culture Night - 24th Sept 6pm - Late with singer Jennifer Evans, interactive light installation by artist Jean Conroy – open studios, tours and more! 

The Crafts Council of Ireland Exhibitions Policy has been published
online (download PDF here).
 
The Crafts Council of Ireland (CCoI) programmes and facilitates exhibitions at all levels of the craft sector, through the following four strands:

1. The National Craft Gallery Exhibition Programme
2. The National Craft Gallery Touring Programme
3. Capsule Exhibitions
4. The External Exhibition Fund 

An Education and Outreach Policy is being developed to underpin the important role that education plays in the CCoI exhibition strands.

DATE: Monday 13th September
VENUE: Butler House, Kilkenny
TIME: Registration, Tea & Coffee from 9.30am      
COST: Free of charge but you must reserve your place

OVERVIEW:
Making an application whether it be for funding, competition or award can be a daunting task. What to say? How to say it? What information to give?

This seminar is presented in two parts, and is designed to be an overview of how to make a clear and concise application using ‘real life’ examples, the second half of the seminar will focus on providing information on the forthcoming Irish Craft Portfolio and Irish Craft Bursary programmes.

Closing date: September 30th, 2010

This autumn, CCoI clients can once again apply for a craft business mentor or a craft peer mentor to assist in the development of their craft enterprise. Since the launch of the scheme last April it has proved very popular with clients – with 26 craft enterprises benefiting to date.  

In preparation for the Christmas season and Showcase 2011, this is a great opportunity to seek expert business advice on various areas of your business including; retail assistance, stand design, product advice, pricing, marketing, selling online and much more.

The National Craft Gallery are looking for volunteers to help out with our programme of events for the Kilkenny Arts Festival in August. There will be two exciting new exhibitions at the NCG ‘Meanings and Attachments’ and ‘Embracing Technology’, along with children’s craft workshops and an outdoor public engagement piece.

CCoI invite funding proposals for exhibitions 
CLOSING DATE: 23rd August 2010

The Crafts Council of Ireland are inviting funding proposals for exhibitions featuring Irish craft in Ireland or abroad.

WHAT IS THE EXTERNAL EXHIBITIONS FUND?
The external exhibitions fund has been established to assist the development of high-quality, independent exhibitions run by individuals, organisations or groups including CCoI Guilds, Associations, Networks & Societies (GANS).

Are you a gallery, craftmaker, craft trail, or craft business interested in developing your offering or product to be part of your local craft tourism market?
If so you may be interested in an opportunity to feature your  craft product or business in one of a selection of Tourism Information Offices spread throughout the country. Each office is managed by Failte Ireland and is an important  information point for visitors to each area. Featuring your product/ promotional materials in your regional office could be beneficial in helping visitors to become aware of your offering or service.

Priority will be given to businesses, groups or craft makers who offer:

Introducing a new development and marketing opportunity for craftspeople

Do you currently welcome domestic or international visitors to your workshop or studio, and provide any of the following:

-  Craft demonstrations
-  Gallery/retail space to sell your craft work or other people’s craftwork
-  Craft classes
 
If so, you may be interested in being a part of a new audit organised by the CCoI to assess the numbers of makers who may be suitable to be part of a new Irish Craft Tourism Network that will start in the Autumn of 2010.