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Of Interest: August Craft Month – 2 Feltmakers Ireland Guild Events – Plus, Felting Activities throughout Ireland

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Feltmakers Ireland is hosting TWO August Craft Month events this year!

On Saturday, the 15th of August, Feltmakers Ireland West will be at King House, Boyle, Co Roscommon. They will have a felting fair featuring a mini-market, an exhibition, and four feltmaking workshops. For more information: https://augustcraftmonth.org/acm-event/felting-fun-day/

On Sunday, the 16th of August, Feltmakers Ireland will be at the CIE Hall/ Inchicore Sports & Social Club, Co Dublin. For more information and to register a place in one of the two felting workshops where we will be creating wet and needle felted flowers, please visit this page: https://augustcraftmonth.org/acm-event/experience-the-joy-of-felting/

In addition to our members’ events (see below), there are over 40 opportunities to experience felting throughout the island of Ireland. When on the August Craft Month website, in the ‘List View ‘, select the ‘Craft Type’ of ‘Felt’ to see ALL of the events! (One can search ‘Map View’, but then there is no option to select ‘Felt’.)

Members Events

Several of our members are hosting their own open studios, workshops, and markets.

Here are some of them, arranged in order of date:

Instagram: @augustcraftmonth26

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

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Exhibition: Save the Date – Feltmakers Ireland’s ‘Essence of Nature’ – The Leitrim Design House ArtWall

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Save the Date: Members of Feltmakers Ireland will exhibit artwork at the Leitrim Design House‘s ArtWall.

Essence of Nature brings together the work of talented felt artists from across Ireland. The exhibition explores the quiet power, beauty, and diversity of the natural world through the rich and expressive medium of felt. Inspired by landscapes, flora, fauna, light, and seasonal change, the artworks showcase both traditional and contemporary felting techniques, highlighting the creativity and innovation of Ireland’s feltmaking community.

Visitors are warmly invited to attend the launch and exhibition to experience this inspiring collection of contemporary felt art in the heart of County Leitrim. The show is part of August Craft Month.

When: The exhibition runs from Wednesday, the 26th of August to Saturday, the 3rd of October 2026.

The exhibition will officially launch on Saturday, the 29th of August, at 12 noon.

Where: The Leitrim Design House, The Dock Arts Centre, St George’s Terrace, Townparks, Carrick-On-Shannon, Co. Leitrim, N41 T2X2

Instagram: @theleitrimdesignhouse @augustcraftmonth26

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Of Interest: Webinar on Mini Mills – from the US

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

There’s a recorded webinar from the Livestock Conservancy in the USA featuring a panel discussion on how small-scale fibre mills can help save rare sheep breeds and provide fibre for textile artists.

To watch the video, visit this website: https://livestockconservancy.org/resources/mini-micromills-webinar-2/

Their Instagram: @livestockconservancy

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Of Interest: Seeking Artists to Give Online Textile Talks

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SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates) is seeking proposals from fibre artists who would like to present at one of SAQA’s 2027 Textile Talks. This is a paid opportunity open to artists worldwide.

Textile Talks features weekly presentations and panel discussions from four textile organisations: International Quilt Museum, Quilt Alliance, Studio Art Quilt Associates, and Surface Design Association.

There’s a playlist of previous Textile Talks: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXsBpWjk3xVCTzucHkrU3ly5NlLa7mW3f

They are looking for the following:

  • Artists with a strong body of work or point of view.
  • Artists who are using textiles or the quilt medium in interesting, new, or unique ways.
  • Artists who are documenting their work with strong visuals (photos or videos).
  • Fibre organisations and researchers/authors are also encouraged to apply. Artists may apply individually or as a group.

Deadline: the 31st of August.

For more information, visit their website: https://www.saqa.com/events/call-artist-speakers-textile-talks

Their Instagram: @saqaart

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Of Interest: ReStyle Ireland – Galway Sustainable Fashion Expo – Open Call

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Restyle Ireland is hosting an Open Call for all designers, makers, artists, educators, and changemakers.

Are you helping people rethink fashion through creativity, repair, reuse or traditional skills?

They’re looking for:

  • Designers
  • Artists
  • Craftspeople & Makers
  • Social Entrepreneurs
  • Workshop Facilitators & Instructors
  • Traditional Skills Practitioners
  • & More

Whether you’d like to run a workshop, give a demonstration, exhibit your work, or share your skills, they are interested in hearing from you.

Join in creating an event that celebrates circular fashion, creativity, and real alternatives to fast fashion and throwaway culture.

A recap of Restyle Dublin that was on the 4th of July, in Dún Laoghaire, can be seen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/Dah6JBxIxsl/

Expression of Interest forms can be found here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1heSqgZDxHKwLtc2pE1XfW4lxikg_LQZ_fdSnO2S93D4

Their @restyle.ireland @theenvforum

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Open Calls: 2 Exhibitions Seeking Artwork – Esker Arts, Co Offaly & Market Gallery, Co Cork

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Esker Arts invites artists from or based in Offaly, Galway, Roscommon, Tipperary, Laois, Westmeath, Kildare, and Meath to submit one existing artwork for a group exhibition curated by Rachel Botha, taking place October–December 2026.

This year’s Open Call explores the idea of ‘the good neighbour’. It can be interpreted from the perspective of a community defined by place, identity, or commonality; understood beyond borders through shared causes or struggles; or viewed through our relationship with the natural environment.

Submissions in any medium and from artists at all stages of their careers are welcomed.

Deadline: Wednesday 26 August, 5:30 PM

There is no submission fee, and they’re seeking existing works. Selected artists will receive a small participation fee.

Esker Arts, High St, Tullamore, Co. Offaly, R35 NY50

To apply: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScxhn9pMKRzX_1uH5ekMMuLclCoqzpZML7-yaawu-xvNQK3Qw/viewform

@eskerarts

The Market Gallery Cork is seeking artwork in any medium for an exhibition titled “Layers of the Land.” Suitable artworks could include landscapes or artworks about the land on which we live and our relationship to it.

Email submissions to marketgallery@douglasvillage.ie by midnight on Sunday 13th September.

Market Gallery, Douglas Village Shopping Centre, Douglas, Co Cork, T12 E39C

More information: https://www.marketgallerydouglas.com/open-call

@market_gallery_cork

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Exhibition: Member Jane Fox has 3 Pieces in Late Night Art Bangor – Boom Studios – Runs through 19th of August

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Feltmakers Ireland guild member Jane Fox is participating in Late Night Art Bangor.

She has three pieces on exhibition at Boom Studios and is one of several artists, stallholders, and workshop facilitators showcasing their work as part of Late Night Art Bangor. The launch is today, Thursday, the 30th of July, from 6 – 9 PM.

The Eco Takeover exhibition will launch on Thursday, 30 July, and continues through to Wednesday, the 19th of August.

Where: Boom Studios, 80 Main St, Bangor BT20 5AE, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

“The title [of the image of Jane’s artwork] is ‘171 Trillion Pieces’, as this is the estimated amount of plastic that is in the Earth’s seas. I included a Common Gull because, although the name suggests they are found everywhere, they are actually a red-listed species, due to the rapid decline in numbers.” – Jane Fox.

To learn more about Late Night Art Bangor and see the other events happening, visit their website: https://latenightartbangor.com/

Instagram: @whitefox_felts @latenightartbangor @boom.studios

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Exhibition: Member Dr Niki Collier Exhibits in UNESCO World Heritage Site in Nessebar, Bulgaria

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Feltmakers Ireland member Dr Niki Collier is exhibiting her series of work, ‘Wings of Mobility‘, in a joint exhibition with painter and sculptor Mara Lateva in Nessebar, Bulgaria, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The show explores the concept of motion through large-scale, felt sculptures of wool and silk wings. Collier writes, “Soft textile sculptures resembling bird wings embody local and global bird lore and migration. The wings represent physical movement as well as personal growth and transformation”.

A review of the exhibition appears in the Portfolio section of the summer issue of the Irish Arts Review.

Where: Community Hall Yana Laskova, Staria Grad, ul. “Mesembrija” 20, 8231 Nessebar, Bulgaria.

More information about the exhibition can be found here: https://www.bta.bg/en/news/1164089–the-wing-maker-niki-collier-joins-renowned-artist-mara-lateva-for-joint-exhibi

Instagram: @nikicollierfelt @irisharts_review


Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Of Interest: Petition to Reduce VAT Rate on Irish Craft

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

The Irish Design Loft in Powerscourt Estate, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, has organised a petition to reduce the VAT rate on Irish-made crafts. The current Value Added Tax (VAT) rate is 23%; they propose reducing it to 13.5%, which is the VAT rate for fine art in Ireland.

“Irish handmade crafts are an important part of our heritage, creativity, and local communities. Yet many independent makers are struggling under the current VAT rate, making it harder to compete and keep traditional skills alive.

A reduced VAT rate on Irish handmade crafts would help support local artisans, small local creative businesses, and the future of Irish craftsmanship.

If you believe in supporting Irish makers, please consider signing the petition and sharing it with others. Every signature helps.”

Editor’s Note: For your input to be registered, you will need to click through an emailed confirmation.

For more information and to sign the petition, visit this website: https://www.change.org/p/reduce-vat-on-irish-handmade-crafts

Their Instagram: @irishdesignloft_


Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.

Of Interest: Participatory Arts Project with Studio – Dublin

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council in Dublin is partnering with The Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown Older People’s Council (dlr OPC) on a studio project for professional designers/makers and older people.

They welcome applications from individual designers and makers who they will support to develop their craft practice with older people in the County. The designers/makers will receive a monthly fee to support their practice, a materials budget, and a training stipend. Additionally, the DLR will offer full (rent-free) access to a studio in dlr Baths from early October 2026 for 14 months. It will give designers/makers the space and time to create their work.

The organisers will host a visit to the Studio on Thursday 30 July at 2 PM. If you are interested in visiting, please email arts@dlrcoco.ie or phone (01) 236 2759 to book a place.

  • The deadline for questions is 1 PM, Friday, the 4th of September 2026.
  • The deadline for applications is 1 PM, Monday, the 7th of September 2026.

Your application can include written documents, video, or audio files.

To learn more and apply, go to https://dlrcoco.submit.com/show/379


Instagram: @dlrcoco.ie @agefriendlyireland @dlr_arts

Disclaimer for Feltmakers Ireland Blog

Feltmakers Ireland aims to share information about awards, education, events, exhibitions, and opportunities that you will find interesting. Our sharing is neither paid for by nor an endorsement of these individuals or organisations.

Contact Us: If you have any concerns about content, please email us at feltmakersie@gmail.com.

Questions: For questions about content, please follow the link to the organisation involved in hosting the event.