Blog:

Opportunity: Westival Festival – deadline soon

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

The Westport Music and Arts Festival (Westival) is seeking submissions.

This year’s theme is ‘The Art Of Living’, which seeks to celebrate the wonder that lives in the cracks of our daily lives. It also looks to engage with that ubiquitous phrase ‘ the cost of living’, which is impacting so many of us today. How does this increased pressure affect our creative lives, and can we still find the space to be inspired?

While we welcome submissions across all genres, priority will be given to workshops and community-driven projects.

We are particularly encouraging applications from those currently underrepresented in the arts, including but not limited to artists of colour, artists who identify as LGBTQI+, artists with disabilities, migrants, and members of the Traveller community.

The deadline to apply is May 31st @5pm, and artists can apply here –

https://forms.gle/Z1UdvPqgaGQqhnG87

If you have any questions about your application, please email sarahbyrne@westival.ie

For more information, visit their website – https://westival.ie/

Advertisement

Event: 2nd International Day of Celtic Art

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Where: St Patrick Centre, Downpatrick, Northern Ireland.

When: 8-11 June 2023 (Thursday to Sunday).

Who: Celtic artists, craftspeople and scholars from the USA, Canada, Scotland, Isle of Man, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland speaking about their work, displaying artworks and doing demonstrations.

For more information, visit their website.

Exhibition: Stitching the Community Together – this weekend in Naas

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

‘Stitching the Community Together’ is an art-based, intergenerational programme centred around the medium of wool and knitting that is supported through the Creativity in Older Age Scheme.

Also on display is Future Tapestry, a newly commissioned virtual reality artwork which is an artistic response to the current state of sheep farming and wool production in Ireland. Directed and produced by John Conway and written by Aisling Byrne, with visuals by NOHO Dublin.

The event is on the 26th & 27th of May, from 10 AM – 4 PM in the Luisne Centre, McAuley Place, Naas, Co. Kildare.

For more information, visit the website – https://www.creativeireland.gov.ie/en/event/future-tapestry/

Visit: Kaffe Fassett Exhibition in Edinburgh

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

The Dovecote Museum in Edinburgh, Scotland, has a colourful exhibition of Kaffe Fassett’s work.

Kaffe Fassett is one of the most successful artists and designers working in contemporary craft today. His career spans over 50 years, with a prolific oeuvre encompassing knitting, needlepoint, mosaic, quilting, textile design, painting and drawing. His books and projects have encouraged millions to make and create, with his designs being used and interpreted by quilters around the globe.

The show runs until the 8th of July, 2023.

There is an online tour on the 6th of June. Tickets £5.00 – https://dovecotstudios.com/whats-on/online-tour-kaffe-fassett-the-power-of-pattern-1683649342

For more information, visit their website – https://dovecotstudios.com/whats-on/kaffe-fassett-the-power-of-pattern

Opportunity: Future Makers 2023 Awards

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Future Makers is a Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) initiative which recognises talent, potential and creativity. It aims to support the next generation of makers, designers and craftspeople to take the step from training into an enterprise. Divided into student and emerging practitioner categories and covering a wide range of disciplines, it is one of the largest prize-funded award programmes in Europe.

Note: Future Makers is the qualifying competition for the annual RDS Craft Awards, which provides 5 x €10,000 awards to makers at a formative stage in their careers. These five significant awards are for developing business and craft skills for those pursuing a professional career in the sector. 

The deadline is 16th June 2023.

For more information, visit their website – https://www.futuremakers.ie/about-future-makers

Opportunity: A Meeting of Hands Art Exhibition – Galway Wool Co-op

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

The Galway Wool Co-op is holding an art exhibition on the 22nd of July at their annual Meitheal in Althenry, Galway.

They invite artists, designers, and crafters in Ireland to engage with the themes and concepts that connect the Galway Sheep breed to the Irish landscape. The Co-op aims to creatively enrich the knowledge of Ireland’s authentic sheep breed with a wider audience.

Submissions are now open. Collaborative pieces are welcome. You will be able to sell your work – there’s no commission fee.

To participate, please DM via Instagram* @michellehickeyart by midnight 31st of May. She will email you the details.

Where to get Galway Wool? This Irish-raised wool fibre can be obtained from Donegal Yarns. It is 7.50 euro, per kilo. If that is too large an amount, perhaps folks can pool together? To purchase, call Donegal Yarns at +353 (0)749738055

*If you are ~not~ on Instagram, please email Feltmakers Ireland member Juliane for further info.

Opportunity: August Craft Month

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

The open call to register events is now live. August Craft Month is an all Ireland’s unique celebration of the craft sector, providing opportunities for all to make, see, learn about and buy craft!

The deadline for submissions is Monday, 19th June at 5pm. You can still register after this date for inclusion in the calendar of events. But the more time there is to promote your event, the better.

Looking ahead to 2023, we are eager to build upon the accomplishments of 2022, which included:

  • Over 900 makers participated
  • Over 16,000 visitors
  • Reached over 80,000 people on Instagram alone
  • At least one event in every county around Ireland

For more information, visit their website.

Opportunity: Volunteering at Bloom

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Current members of Feltmakers Ireland are invited to volunteer at our booth at Bloom as part of the DCCI’s GANS demonstration area.

We are scheduled for TWO days: Friday the 2nd of June and Saturday the 3rd.

Members will represent Feltmakers Ireland, our book, Exploring Irish Wool for Feltmaking. and our 20th anniversary.

  • Please be ready to sell the book and hand out business cards for potential guild members.
  • Please be ready to talk about feltmaking. Demonstrations are welcome!
  • You are welcome to display your own felted works on the walls.
  • If desired, you can sell your felted works.
  • If you have hands-on activities, you can charge for kits.

Volunteer shifts will be for three-hour blocks: from 11 AM to 2 PM and 2 PM to 5 PM.

We will need two demonstrators and one helper per shift.

Please arrive 30 minutes prior to your shift in order to have time to set up.

Note: We will not be able to drive to our spot at Bloom. People must transport their work and equipment by foot from the car park. Cars are only allowed during the first and last day of the event. Along with the usual public transport, there will be a free shuttle from Heuston Station to Bloom.

There will be a small stipend to cover costs.

Please only volunteer if you are available.

Contact Juliane at helpingfeltmakersireland@gmail.com

Event: Game of Shrooms

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Game of Shrooms is a once-a-year, worldwide art-N-seek event created by Attaboy. The next Game of Shrooms happens on June 10th, 2023. On that day, artists from all over the world hide their original mushroom-themed artworks in public places. Then, they give hints (often on social media) for others to find AND KEEP!

There appear to be several hidden in Ireland.

For more information, visit their website – https://yumfactory.com/gameofshrooms/

Event: STAMP Festival of Creativity

Published on by Feltmakers Ireland

Benchspace, Cork Craft & Design, Sample-Studios and Shandon Art Studios host over 50 art, design and craft events, exhibitions, workshops, demonstrations, screenings and markets, at Cork’s Counting House. 

When: 19-21st of May.

Where: Cork.

A free event, although some things do need to be booked.

For more information, visit their website – www.stampcork.ie