Press Release for Immediate Release – 10th June 2020
Council to lead European partnership with award of €754,864 of Creative Europe EU funding
Carlow County Council has been selected as one of twenty successful applicants out of 380 eligible applications to lead a new EU Project called “Craft Hub” which will be officially started in September 2020
Carlow County Council brought together a partnership of organisations and institutions from 9 EU countries to develop and create the “Craft Hub” proposal. The project seeks to seeks to 1) build capacity for existing and future craft practitioners by creating new professional opportunities, stimulate the creation of new works, increase and interconnect knowledge on craft making skills and thereby pushing the boundaries of Craft making processes through new experimental ways of making, 2) safeguard Craft knowledge, process, skills through training and education materials, and the digital collection of all knowledge, 3) develop audiences for Craft by creating awareness and understanding for Craft practices and the works of Craft practitioners
Welcoming the news, Cllr. Tom O’Neill , Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council , “I welcome this news of the new “Craft Hub” project and I am delighted that Carlow County Council is leading this opportunity” , the Cathaoirleach continued to say “Craft Hub is all about sharing expertise and knowledge related to Craft legacies, it seeks to bring together a significant EU wide network encompassing Craft practice, education, advocacy, and business. I look forward to welcoming the group to Carlow as part of the later stages of the project”
Creative Europe aims to foster the professional development of creative careers and their work cross borders and to reach new European audiences and developed innovative artistic models designed to help strengthen and sustain the arts and cultural sectors here in Ireland.
Kathleen Holohan , Chief Executive of Carlow County Council speaking about the Craft Hub project being awarded funding from Creative Europe said that “County Carlow has a rich industrial and inspirational craft based heritage driven DNA” and “Carlow County Council are delighted to lead a European Project which is all about exploring , building capacity and sharing best practice in terms of the creative process and opportunity”. Holohan continued to say “County Carlow has a wealth of creative entrepreneurs who take their inspiration from the Blackstairs & Barrow Valley to create Craft work of stone masonry, stained glass, a myriad of small and subtle architectural details to a bounty of artefacts across all Craft disciplines such as textiles and fashion objects, jewellery and pottery”
Speaking about the project , Kieran Comerford , Head of Enterprise with the Local Enterprise Office in Carlow County Council said “we are delighted to have been successful in this bid and we look forward to taking Craft Hub forward over the coming years” , Comerford continued to say “the project will include Maker Exchange Residencies , the creation of a Digital Repository , development of a Material Library , outreach workshops , exhibitions and conferences delivered by all 9 EU partners co-ordinated by Carlow County Council”. In conclusion the Head of Enterprise stated “This bid was developed by our European Project Officer, Jim Woods in partnership with our Arts Section with the support of Visual in association with our partners in Wales, Scotland, Portugal, Germany, Greece, Italy, Denmark and Norway”.
The project will officially be launched in Qtr. 4, 2020
