Major New Initiative for Crafts, Applied Arts & Design May 28 2002 Roisín McDonough, Arts Council of Northern Ireland Chief Executive, launched a major new initiative for crafts, applied arts and design, at the Edge Bar in Belfast. The special initiative commits £500,000 of Arts Council of Northern Ireland National Lottery Funds to establishing Northern Ireland as an area of excellence in the production and exhibition of crafts, applied arts and design. Ms McDonough, announcing the dedicated funding initiative and strategy, said: "This special initiative, which stems directly from the Council’s five-year Arts Plan, recognises and supports the value of contemporary and traditional crafts, applied arts and design practice as an essential element of Northern Ireland’s cultural, social and economic landscape." She went on to say that, due to the diverse and wide range of practice encompassed by the sector, an inter-agency approach would be most effective in developing and sustaining the necessary long-term structural change. The Arts Council is therefore committed to working with other agencies and bodies towards co-ordinated and appropriate support for the crafts, applied arts and design.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES FOR THE CRAFTS, APPLIED ARTS & DESIGN
The launch also provided the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of several craftspeople who have received awards through the Arts Council’s Support for the Individual Artist Scheme. These were: Jeremy Suffern, Eleanor Wheeler, Sinead McDermot, Susan Whitla, Cara Murphy, Earthform Ceramics, Peter Boardman and Jacquie Brachi. |
