Crafts Council of Ireland

STOPRESS

Crafts Council of Ireland InformationStopress Goes Month

From this issue, Stopress Nbecome a monthly publication.TheCopy date will be the I st of eachmonth and it will become availablebetween the 7th and 12th of themonth. We have also added somenew sections which we hope willbecome standards. One such newforum will be the Letters to theEditor section and we would liketo encourage as muchcorrespondence as possible.

CCol Jewellery Course blowsits Trumpet!Dear Editor,

Earlier this year the CCol JewelleryCourse Trainer, Jane Huston, calledme and asked me to take on atrainee for a two week workplacement. The assistance I felt Iwould gain from this was input inthe development of one of ournew collections.

Not only has the student takenour idea from concept through tofinished product, she has also madeother beautiful new designs. If thisis the quality of graduate theJewellery Design and ProductionSkills Course produces, I lookforward to using the course as avaluable source of talented, skilledcraftspeople for my company.

Regards,

Eoin McDonnell, Jewel Ar t Ireland.

Call for Jury Submissions

CCol Quality Mark - RetailGallery - Showcase New Faces& Village - MediaStore(Only Craftworkers Registeredwith the Crafts Council may bejuried)

The next Jury process is scheduledfor Tuesday I Oth of August.

ScheduleJury Submission Forms availablefrom June 7th - phone 056 61804,fax 056 63754 for a submissionform. Please indicate intention ofsubmission, by Friday 30th July byreturning the slip on the JurySubmission Form. Submissions willnot be accepted from craftworkerswho have not returned theIntention of Submission Slip.

All submissions should then bedelivered (marked FAO The Jury)Crafts Council, Castle Yard, Kilkennyon Thursday and Friday 5 & 6August. Late submissions cannot beaccepted.

Craftworkers will be notified of Jurydecisions in the week of 16th - 20thAugust.

Items can be collected on Thursday12th and Friday 13th August andMonday 16th through Friday 20thAugust. Any remaining items afterthis date will be donated to charity.

Consider the use of couriers, SDSor Fastrack to transport yoursubmissions, it can save youconsiderable time and effort.Whichever method you choose we

strongly urge you to take sufficientcare in packaging your craft items.

General Jury Information

Craftworkers must be on theRegister of the Crafts Council ofIreland to submit work forselection.There are two jurysessions per year: one in the Springand one in the Autumn. A noticewill be put in Stopressapproximately 6 weeks before thejury session, inviting submissions forselection.

Each craftworker submitting workwill first be juried for the CraftsCouncil Quality Mark which is acommon requirement at any jurysession.Those who have beenselected for the CCol Quality Markwill receive a certain number ofstickers free of charge. Furtherstickers will be charged at cost.Those juried successfully for theCCol Quality Mark may then (atthe same jury session) be juried forShowcase Village and New Faces,the Retail Gallery and MediaStore.

The jury panel of six is drawn froma panel nominated by craftspeopleas follows:

Kieran Whitelaw - lecturerSean Taylor -Association of ArtistsPeter Johnson - interior designerPeter Meanley - lecturerKnut Klimmek - furniture makerGeoffrey Healy - ceramicistDeirdre McQuillan - journalistFrancis Keane - retailerRichard Lewis - fashion designerErika Marks - jewellerMary Dowling - buyerLiam O'Neill - woodturnerCiaran Forbes - woodturnerDenis Looby - architect

Crafts Council

Mark McSwiney - architectBelinda Brayshaw - ceramicistAngela Rolfe - specifier OPWLouise Kennedy - fashion designerBreda Haugh - jewellerJulie Griffiths - knitwear designerAlan Ardiff - jewellerRudolf Heltzel - jewellerRobert O'Byrne - journalistKieran Walsh - Siamsa TireMichael Jackson - ceramicistDavid Comerford - woodturnerBernadette Madden - batiq artistAnnie Brennan - retailerColm O'Briain - arts officerMartina Gillan - jeweller & retailerMarie Doyle - buyerAndrew Klimacki - furniture makerRoger Bennett - woodturnerPat McCarthy - fashion designer

ResubmissionsShould an applicant be unhappy witha decision made in relation to theirwork, six different members of thepanel will appraise their work at thenext jury session.

Crafts Council of IrelandQuality Mark

All applicants will have their workappraised by the jury based on thefollowing criteria:

* Quality of craftsmanship shown inall presented work, whether design,art or heritage lead craft

* Quality of creativity andinnovation in design or art leadcraft

ShowcaseShowcase represents a commercialopportunity for volume orders, andthe selection of work of quality forthe Village takes this intoconsideration.

All applicants will have their workappraised by the jury based on thefollowing criteria.

* Quality of craftsmanship shown inall presented work, whether design,art or heritage lead craft

* Quality of creativity andinnovation in design or art leadcraft

* Good quality promotionalliterature (brochures etc.)

*That the marketing environmentof the area being applied for is bestsuited to the presented work.

Subsidies

Subsidy application forms areavailable from Bernadette Fagan atEUROFAIRS,8-9 Sandyford OfficePark, Sandyford, Dublin,tel: 01 -295 8185 18 but ONLY tothose who have booked a stand atthe fair.

These subsidies will not be availableto exhibitors who have received thesubsidy for 5 years and over.

New Faces is an area set aside bythe Crafts Council of Ireland fornew and innovative exhibitors whohave reached the high standard ofquality set by our Jury panel. NewFaces stands are charged at theCrafts Council of Ireland subsidisedrate.

*Note! If you have any queries onthe Showcase jurying process,please contact Catherine Jordan on01-294 2574. If you have queries onpricing or stand layouts pleasecontact Bernadette Fagan,EUROFAIRS on 01-295 8185.

Retail GalleryRetail Gallery stocking policyfavours innovation in design andproduction, short batch andindividual production. The overallpolicy is based on theMemorandum of Association of theCrafts Council:

2. (a) "To promote quality in thedesign, production and marketing ofall crafts, in order to strengthen thecraft industry, protect existingemployment and create newemployment".

Note! For information oncommission rates or furtherinformation on the Retail stockingpolicy please contact Lynn Stephensat CraftsCouncil@DESIGNyard on01-677 8467.

Please note: Criteria for juryingwork for the Retail Gallery andfor Showcase are different.Acceptance for the RetailGallery does not necessarilymean that the Village arearepresents the appropriatemarket opportunity for aparticular type of work, andvice versa.

MediaStoreAll applicants will have their workappraised by the jury based on thefollowing criteria.

^Quality of craftsmanship shown inthe presented work.

*Design innovation shown in thepresented work

Note! For any further informationon MediaStore please contactJoanna Quinn, Information Officer,056-61804

Plan Expo4th - 6th November 1999Simmonscourt, RDS

1-ixpo Exhibitions are launching anew Interiors section which will beof great benefit to interiordesigners who had difficulty locatingrelevant companies at previousshows. If you are interested inbooking a stand in the Interiorsarea at Plan Expo please contactStephen Murtagh on 01-295 8181.

The Crafts Council intend topromote a Quality Mark Trail forCrafts Council registeredcraftworkers who have achievedthe Quality mark. Any suchexhibitors at the show will have thequality mark on their fascia paneland will be part of a specialpromotion in the catalogue.

For YourInformatio

Craft Fairs, Exhibitions & Competitions

The Information Section has manyInformation sheets available thatmay be of use to you. When newsheets are published you will benotified via Stopress.The list ofSheets available at the moment is asfollows:

British Craft FairsContemporary Crafts ohBorderCopyrightCraft CentresShowcase New Product AwardsGeneral CCol Information SheetGrant Aid Agencies

Enterprise Board listEnterprise Ireland officesLeader groups

Guilds & AssociationsGuilds General InformationHealth and SafetyHow to Get into ShowcaseHow to Register with the CColInternetIrish Craft FairsJurying InformationMediaStoreMembership Information SheetOutreach Information sheetPersonal Accident InsurancePublic Liability insuranceRegional Craft FairsRegister CriteriaRetail Gallery ScaleRetail Shop/Submission ProcedureShowcase StatisticsSYOB-Quick Reference GuideTraining Courses info sheets

Business Course OutlineJewellery Course OutlinePottery Course Outline

VHI Group Scheme

These information sheets will bepublished as articles in Stopress onan occasional basis.The first articleon the Internet is on pag<

Sars Poteries, Stages de verve- Glass Workshops

European Summers School 1999Musee-Atelier duVerre - Museedepartmental BP No 2 - 59216Sars-Poteries - FranceTel:+33O3 27 61 61 44Fax+33 03 27 61 65 64

Ceramic Millennium ArtsFestival 1999-TheNetherlands

The Ceramic Millennium is aninternational leadership congressfor the ceramic arts involving twothousand delegates from sixtycountries.The Arts Festival is thelargest and most public part of thisambitious five-part event that alsoincludes the 8th internationalCeramics Symposium. (The RAI,Amsterdam July 13 - 17). A Centuryof Film and Video on Ceramics.TheCeramic Resources Fair. For furtherinformation, see the CeramicMillennium web sitehttp://www.ceramicmill.com orphone+31 (20)679-3411Fax: +31 (20) 673-7306E-mail: ceramics@eurocongres.com

The Festival for the WorldCraft Artists - The 99Chongju Biennale.This is an international CraftBiennale which is to be held atChongju City in the Republic ofKorea.The exhibition will includethe invited craft works of bothnationally and internationallyrenowned craft arts of this centuryas well as award winning craftworks. For further information,contact Organising Committee,(755, Sajik I dong, Heungdeok-gu,Chongju City, Chungchonbuk-Province 361 101, Republic ofKorea.

Tel: +82 431 220 6275.Fax: +82 431 220 6280. E-mail:competition@chongjubiennale.com

Fiberart International 999 September - 30 October1999

Pittsburgh Center for the ArtsSociety for Contemporary CraftsPittsburgh, PA.

The 16th biennial exhibition ofcontemporary fiber art, organisedby the Fiberarts Guild ofPittsburgh, features 83 compellingworks by 71 artists, including 15from countries outside the USA. Apublic Fiberarts Forum featuringinternational artists in a roundtabledialogue is scheduled for Saturday,23 October 1999.Web site:http://www.paznet.com/fiberartint I99.html.

Irish ChairsThe aim of this exhibition is tostimulate Irish Designers to re-invent this everyday object withattention to the form, function,aestheticism and imagination.Designers represent many stylesand materials. They also represent awide geographical spread.

Venue:Aula Maxima, NUIG. Dates:12 - 27b July 1999. Contact HilaryMorley,Tel/Fax: 091 -528524. SeanMcCrum Tel/Fax 01 -6793279.E-mail: hmorley@esatclear.ie

Business Awards TodayThe Business Today Awards areopen to companies with 50employees or under, who have usedTelecommunications in aninnovative way to boost anddevelop their business. Eachmonthly award winner will befeatured in the Irish Independentbusiness and technology section.Entry Form and criteria availablefrom: FREEPOST,Telecom Eire, SMEMarketing Business Today Award,PO Box 6427, Phibsboro, Dublin 7.Fax to 01 701 2943. By e-mail tobusinesstoday@telecom.ie.Visit the

Crafts Council of Ireland June 1999

website: www.businesstoday-awards.com

Exhibition "BreathingSpaces"Artists are invited to submit forselection, ideas for this exhibitionof Installation and Sculpture workin Lough Key Forest Park nearBoyle.

The exhibition will run from July23rd -August 15th 1999 coincidingwith the Boyle Arts Festival. Theidea is to create "Organic Spaces"at various locations which visitorswill view by following a map. It ishoped that some work wouldremain in the park and be absorbedback into the environment.

Deadline for Submissions is 21 June1999. For further informationplease contact Tower Arts Project,Lough Key Forest Park,Tel: 07963737

1999 RDS/EBS CraftsCompetitionThe competition is a major event inthe Irish crafts calendar. It allowsprofessional and amateurcraftworkers compete together forprestigious awards and gives theman opportunity to display their skilland innovation. The competition hassuccessfully developed in the recentpast and now has twenty categorieswith a prize fund in excess of£15,000. A special prize of £2,000has been introduced this year tocelebrate the arrival of themillennium. It is open to any craftdiscipline.

The judging panel is made up ofprominent craftspeople andacademics from Ireland, NorthernIreland and the UK.To maintain highstandards, prizes are only awardedprovided sufficient merit is shown.This competition is open to all craftworkers resident in Ireland andIrish craft workers based abroad.The winning entries form part of anexhibition which is an integral part

of the annual Kerrygold HorseShow, August 4th-8th.

The work of Ireland's most talentedcraft designers will be seen by awider audience this year, as theRDS is currently orgainising atouring exhibition of winners whichwill travel to the Ulster Folk andTransport Museum and DundalkCounty Museum.

Closing date for receipt of slides orphotographs is Friday 18 June 1999.

Application forms: Adrienne Dunneor Trixie Leahy at the RDS ArtsDepartment Tel: 01 6680866

Midland Craft Guilds SummerCraft FairThis fair will be held at the CourtHotel,Tullamore, Co Offaly onSunday 18 July from I lam to6.30pm. Over 50 stalls, some stallsstill available. Further informationand bookings from Elizabeth Wynn0506-21156.

Dunlavin Festival of the ArtsNow in its 17th year, the DunlavinFestival of Arts will hold a CraftFair in the village of Dunlavin onSunday 10 June commencing at 12noon.The Craft Fair encourages allareas of crafts and does not chargefor the stands.Those interested intaking a stand should contact MattOwens at 045-401255.

Castleconnell Craft Fair,October 24 & 25 1999The Castleconnell Craft Fair whichis one of Ireland's largest and mostsuccessful craft events invitesapplications from potentialexhibitors for stands at this year'sCraft Fair l999.The 2-day fairattracts craftworkers from all fourprovinces. For further details andan application form, please contactMary O'Connor at the followingaddress: (please note that allapplication forms must be returnedby 30 June 1999) Ms MaryO'Connor, Coolbawn,

Castleconnell, Co Limerick.Tel: 061 377810

The Barrettstown GangCamp Christmas FairLooking for a new venue topromote your work? TheBarrettstown Gang Camp is holdingits second annual Christmas Fair onFriday 3 December 1999.TheCamp provides therapeuticprogrammes for seriously illchildren helping them to cope witha difficult present and future andthe event provides much neededfunds for the Camp. Stalls areavailable from £80.Contact: Joanne Duffy, EventsManager, Barrettstown Gang Camp,Ballymore Eustace, Co Kildare.Tel:045-8641 15. Fax: 045-864197.

Limerick City Centre & GiftsExhibition Christmas ! 999

Saturday and Sunday I I and 12December. City Hall, Merchant'sQuay, Limerick City (supported byLimerick City Enterprise Board)

Limited number of stands availableto craftspeople and gifts supplierslocated in the region. Final date forbooking Wednesday 30 June 1999.For further details and/orapplication form, contact CarouselMarketing, 17 Nicholas Street,Limerick,. Tel 061 401682.

PACE Craft Fair2 0 & 2 I November 1999

PACE, a charitable organisationcaring for the elderly in the PassageWest area hold a Craft Fairannually. For further informationplease contact PACE, Main Street,Passage West, Co. Corktel: 021 -863272

WantedWood turning equipment - justsetting up so all equipment andaccessories needed. Call Sheena086 8386656

Courses AvailableTechnical TrainingWorkshops 1999Metalwork,Technical Drawing, SmallScale Clay Forming Workshop,Large Ceramic SculptureWorkshop, Ceramic Press Moulding& Slip Casting, Basic MouldmakingWorkshop, Mouldmaking andSilicone Rubber, WaxworkTechniques, Stained GlassWorkshop (for artists), Basic GlassFusing Workshop, Uses ofTransparency in Sculpture (forartists).

For further information, contactPauline O'Connell,Technical Co-ordinator.The Fire Station Artists'Studios Technical Training, 9 - I I LrBuckingham Street, Dublin I,Ireland.Tel: 01-855 6735/855 5632 Monday-Wednesday.Fax:01-855 5176.E-mail: training@firestation.org.

Kinsealy Basketry and Crafts

Basket making for beginners -Saturday 17 July and Sunday 18 July1999.

Basket making for improvers -Saturday 24 July and Sunday 25 July1999

For further information, contactSamson Akinrinde Tel: 01 -8460014E-mail samsonie@indigo.ie.

Summer Art Workshops: July

Mullins Mill, Kells, Co Kilkenny

Raku Kiln: 10-11 July

Papermaking: 17 - 18 July

Stained Glass: 24 - 25 July

Times: Saturday I Oam - 4pm,

Sunday I Oam - Ipm.

Fee per weekend: £70

For further information, contact

The Arts Office 056-52699.

Organised by Kilkenny County

Council and KRETE.

Craft Workshop/Centre

Spinning/Weaving/Tapestry/Lacework/Patchwork

Learn how to do the above in awonderful 18th century setting atthe Stable Buildings of RockfieldHouse.You can avail of many otheractivities during the course all atvery reasonable rates. For furtherinformation, contact Imelda Daly043-76024.

The Glasshouse Stained GlassProject Workshops 1999The Quay Westport, Co Mayo

Project Workshops for those whoalready have basic stained glassmaking skills, but have not the placeor time, or maybe the impetus touse them. Each course is limited 3participants to ensure maximumpersonal attention. Courses runfrom Monday to Wednesday from10am - 5pm with lunch from Ipm -2pm.

Course Dates:May 10,11 andl2.June 14,15 and 16Sept 6, 7, and 8Nov 8, 9, and 10.

Course Fee: £60 per day. Deposit£40 payable on booking, balancedue on first day of course. Forfurther information, contact LindaMulloy.The Glasshouse,The Quay,Westport.Tel: 098 25484. Fax: 09827726. E-mail: blackshell@anu.ie.

Green Wood Chairs3-day chairmaking courses in WestCork. Design and make your own"living wood" chair usingunseasoned hazel. Courses runregularly throughout the Summer.For details, contact Alison Ospina,Green wood Chairs.The WoodenHouse, Rossnagoose, Skibbereen,West Cork.Tel: 028 21890.Fax: 028 21897.

Tapestry WeavingNatural dying, spinning and tapestry

weaving holiday in South WestDonegal Gaeltacht. Create originalwork in colour and texture. Experttuition. Beginners to advanced.Theprogramme includes: Introductoryslide show and lecture, Naturaldyeing using dyestuff such asleather on an open fire, Spinning onDonegal wheels, Designing fortapestry,Tapestry weaving.Course dates:

July 5 - 9 , 12- 16, 19-23 ,26-30 .August 2 - 6 , 9 - 13, 16-20,23 -27Course Fee £100.For further information, contactAnnie Tel: 073 30325/30372.E-mail tapieisgael@tinet.ie.

Paper WorkshopsDaintree's new handmade papermillis up and running.Varioushandmade paper workshops areavailable now. Introductory classesare held on an ongoing basis withmore advanced classes availablefrom July until September with anArtist. For further details, contactAnn Marie Tel: 01-4789079.

Craft Workshops

Barbara Bailey,The Studio at theOld House,Templeboden, Leamlara,Co Cork.Tel: 021-642513.Courses: Spinning, Needlework,Cross-stitch, and Patchwork.All courses are run from I Oam to5pm with excellent lunch andbottomless coffee pot provided.Please ring for course dates andprices.

To LetCraft Workshop in prime touristarea. Bright and spacious 1,000square feet, very reasonable rent.Preference given to craft disciplinecomplimenting existing crafts inDonegal Craft Village, DonegalTown. Blossoming cultural centre inthe North West.Tel: 073-22225. Fax: 073-22015.

:li of ne 1999

Calling CraftworkersThe Tyrone Guthrie CentreRegional Bursary Scheme

Kilkenny County Council inpartnership with the TyroneGuthrie Centre is offering a twoweek residency at Annaghmakerrigto artists from all fields, writers,painters, musicians and others, bornor domiciled in County Kilkenny.

The artist will be selected based ontheir previous achievements andthe project they intend to furtherduring their working residency atAnnaghmakerrig.The selected Artistresidency should take placebetween October 1999 and end of2000.

Application forms should bereturned before 31 July 1999.Further information from the ArtsOffice, Kilkenny County Council,tel: 056 52699

The Craft worker's Year Book1999

Price £9.95 plus £ 1.00 post andpacking. Available by post from TheWrite Angle Press, Mail OrderDepartment, PO Box 560, Sutton,Surrey, SM2 5ZY.Cheques payable to: The WriteAngle Press. Order by telephone:0181 770 7087,0181 298 0929.By E-mail:philip@wrangleguides.demon.co.uk.Also available from bookshops byquoting title, publisher and ISBN.

Rose of Tralee Online ShopWould you like to supply your Irishproduced goods to the Rose ofTralee? Contact Kerry, tel: 06831538. E-mail: kerry@roseoftralee.ie.

Irish Georgian Society

Ireland's Architectural HeritageSociety, 74 Merrion Square, Dublin2. Tel: 01-6767053. Fax: 01-6620290.

Traditional Building and

Conservation Skills register ofPractitioners.

The Society plans to update theRegister in the year 2000. If youare a thatcher, woodcarver, joiner,stone cutter/carver, signwriter,locksmith, clock restorer,decorative plasterworker, stainedglass worker, paint conservator,gilder, terracotta or ironworker,with experience inrestoration/reproduction, andwould like to be included in theRegister, please contact the Societyfor details. There is no charge foran entry in the Register.

Book to ShowcaseContemporary Ceramic Artand Pottery of Ireland

Louise Ellen Cooley, anadministrator of adult education atMichigan State University, USA anda member of the Lansing, MichiganPotters' Guild visited Ireland inMarch to research her pendingbook "A Celebration of Ceramics.A Guide to ContemporaryCeramic Art and Pottery ofIreland".

This picture book will showcasecontemporary ceramic art andpottery in Ireland and will provideinformation on how to locateindividual artists, studios andpotteries. Both utilitarian objectsand adornments for the home willbe featured.

Mairead Dunlevy of the NationalMuseum of Ireland/Collins Barrackswill write the preface to the book.Louise will identify a contemporaryIrish potter or ceramic artist towrite the introduction to the bookon the contemporary state ofceramics in Ireland today.

Photographs of ceramic art andpottery of individual artists andpotteries and potters working willbe featured with artist/work and/or

historical copy and organisedgeographically according toprovince. Regional and local mapswith symbols marking ceramic artand pottery studios and workshopswill be included if so desired by thepotter for ease of location withcontact names, addresses, phonenumbers and website or emailaddresses listed in the backresource directory of the book.

Interested ceramic artists andpotters may submit slides and/ortransparencies of their work (slidesof ceramic artists and potters atwork may also be showcased),contact and/or studio name,address, phone, fax, email andgeographic directions to studio.Only slides or transparencies willbe accepted (deadline is I August1999) to insure the highest qualityof reproduction for this picturebook. Mail to: Louise Ellen Cooley,724 Elm Street, East Lansing,Michigan 48823, U.S.A., email:cooleyl@pilot.msu.edu

SituationsWantedExperienced photographer ofArt and Craft available:Formats 35mm and 120.Will travel.

For more information, contact

Veronica Nicholson, Ballyvaughan,

Co Clare. Tel: 065-7077076.

Finnish Goldsmith interestedin suitable job within theindustry in Ireland: Has madejewellery by casting, pressing and

handwork. Has seated precious

stones by utilising the most

common techniques and has had

practice in more special seating

techniques. Contact Sami Auvinen,

Jukolantie 12 D 25, FIN-08700

Virkkala, Finland.

Tel:+358 40 5440169

of Ire

Situations VacantThrower needed: (full/part time)

for small pottery in Co Clare

producing domestic ware at

stoneware temperatures. Contact

Hannah at Ballymorris Pottery,

Cratloe, Co Clare

061-357118.

Cork City Jewellers: has afulltime position available for a

qualified jewellery/setter. Contact

Irene at 021-27491 I.

Wanted: Jewellery

Designer/Craftsperson interested in

marketing Australian Opals. Contact

Box 1001 at Crafts Council of

Ireland, Castle Yard, Kilkenny

For Sale16 Shaft AVL compu-dobbyloom: 1.5 loom including overhead

beater, standard beam, sectioned

beam, 4 box fly shuttle, tension box,

track and mounting system,

selvedge roller, MAC classic 2/40

computer with B/W design and

weave program. £5,500. Contact

Northern Ireland 01504 31 1060

Dobby loom: 16 shaft, fly shuttle,

l70cms/68" weaving width, good

condition, complete with Reeds,

shuttle, lags and pegs, bench. £ 1200.

Contact Korinna Henke at 0508

81565.

Cromartie Kiln: 16 cubic foottoploader with programmer.

Rathcliffe wheel, extruder,

decorators banding wheels,

throwing batts.AII in excellent

condition. Contact Mark 041 -

31817 (9am -6pm).

Laburnum Tree: for sale. 50years old, 30 feet high. Contact

Denise 01-8401530 or

086-8290037.

The first in an occasionalseries of articles on issues ofinterest to craftworkers.

The InternetOne of the most frequently raisedissues in the crafts sector is that ofthe use of technology, and morespecifically, the internet. Bookshopsare awash with hefty, costly bookspurporting to explain all. However,very few people have either thetime or the patience to delvethrough these books.Thisinformation sheet hopefully goessome way to providing astraightforward and simpleexplanation.

Q: What exactly is theinternet?

A: Initially conceived by theAmerican Defence Department forexchanging information, theInternet has evolved on aworldwide basis to include some100 million users.The word itselfis derived from international andnetwork. This network ofnetworks is a core of computerslinked by high-speed connections.To gain access, you simply connectyour computer to any of thesenetworks via an Internet ServiceProvider, such as Indigo.

Q: What does it do?A: Having gained access, you arenow online.The thing to rememberis that, internet use is not aboutcomputers, but people andcommunication.The most basicform of communication iselectronic mail (e-mail), wherebythe user can send a letteranywhere in the world for the costof a local call. It's also possible toattach computer files to the e-mail,for example, a piece of artwork.

With a bit of practice you can postquestions you need answered,search/purchase books or visit artgalleries.

Q: Do I need it for mybusiness?

A: In the last few years the Internethas become as basic a businesstool as the telephone or faxmachine. Whether you can makemoney from internet use is anothermatter. For instance, onlinebooksellers, Amazon are sellinghuge numbers of books, but are yetto make a profit. Using the internetfor direct sales seems to begrowing in popularity, particularlyproducts such as CD's or books. Sorather than using the web toattract sales, it is more advisable tothink in terms of interactiveadvertising.

Q: What is interactiveadvertising?A: Boosting your marketing toolswith a website is probablyadvisable.You can post informationabout your products, providecustomer support and use feedbackas valuable market research. Awebsite has the potential to widenyour customer base by broadeningthe particular niche that yourproduct is aimed at.

Q: How do I get started?A:The most popular method iswith a PC, a telephone line and amodem. The modem is hooked toa service provider who gives anaccount to you.

Q: The buzzwords like"information superhighway"put me off, how difficult isuse of the internet?

A: As with all buzzwords, the actualmeaning is usually quite simple. Forinstance, the informationsuperhighway effectively means ahuge library, where the user canfind information at the click of amouse. If you can type a letter on acomputer, you can use the internet.If you don't have a computer,consider dropping into an internetcafe, where you can use a machine

'ouncil of Ireland June 1999

from about £ 1.50 for 15 minutes.

Q: I want to do this - wheredo I go?A:You should contact any one ofthe Internet Service Providers suchasTinet, Esatclear, Ireland Online orIndigo.

Indigo has a deal at the moment forputting your business on theInternet for less than a pound aday. The deal includes websitefacility, 5 email aliases to use forcorrespondence marketing andresearch, domain name registration,10 MB Virtual Web Server and awebsite template. For furtherinformation phone 1850 73 00 73

Some interesting websites:www.calligraphycentre.com - work

of John Stevens

www.letterhead.com - Sign Artistssite

www.pegasusnet.com - Websitedesigners specifically for artsorganisations and the use of e-commerce

www.stonecarver.com - Chicagobased sculptor, Walter Arnold.

www.ruffordceramiccentre.org.uk -a history of studio ceramics in theUK

http://www.the-chapel-of-art.freeserve.co.uk/page2l.html -Project to collect hand-made floortiles from around the world andeach tile should represent theceramicist, their work and their art.

www.kompass.ie - directory of Irishcompanies

www.design-council.org.uk

www.artic.edu - Art Institute ofChicago

Peter McCullen

Crafts Council of Ireland Staff

KilkennyChief Executive Leslie ReedBusiness Development Manager. Emer FerranAdministrative Officer. Nuala McGrathInformation Officer. .Joanna QuinnAccounts Officer. Mary BlanchfieldSecretary/Receptionists Maggie Moran

Breda Butler

Training (Kilkenny)Craft and Design Business Development Anne KennedyJewellery Design & Production Skills Course Jane HustonPottery Skills Course Gus Mabelson

Phone: 056 61804, fax: 056 63754, email: ccoi@craftscouncil-of-ireland.ie

Crafts Council@DESIGNyard, DublinRetail Manager. Lynn StephensMediaStore Development Kaethe Burt-O'Dea

Phone: 01 6778467, fax: 01 6778482, email: kaethe@connect.ie

ShowcaseShowcase Co-Ordinator. Catherine Jordan

Phone & fax: 01 -2942574, email: showcase@indigo.ie

Contemporary Crafts on the BorderDevelopment Officer. Cornelia McCarthy

Phone: 042-73005, fax: 042-73022, email: craftcf@tinet.ie

Stopress/Bulletin Mailing ListCraftworkers on the Register of the Crafts Council of Ireland receiveStopress and the Bulletin free of charge. This is part of the serviceassociated with Registration.

Interested individuals not on the Register may subscribe to the Stopressand Bulletin. Due to production costs it has become necessary tocurrently charge a nominal fee of £10 per calendar year for those whosubscribe.

At the moment an update of the Mailing List of subscribers is beingcarried out.This update continues through June.

We would like to encourage responses to our request for updatedinformation so that we may provide an efficient service.

While every care has been taken in the compilation of this Stopress, the publisher cannot

accept responsibility for errors or omissions. To advertise in Stopress, please contact

Joanna Quinn at the Crafts Council's offices in Kilkenny tel: 056 61804, email:

joanna@craftscouncil-of-ireland.ie.