Welcome
Creative Island was launched in 2010 to place Irish Craft at the centre of Showcase, providing a platform for quality Irish artisans to meet retailers in a single contemporary and buyer-friendly area.
This year Creative Island consists of 85 Irish craft makers and designers selected by an independent panel for their creativity, innovation and craftsmanship. All the work in Creative Island has been ‘Imagined Designed and Made in Ireland’ by Irish craftmakers who bring fantastic ideas to life with great energy and passion. The craft sector is a vibrant and important part of the Creative Industries in Ireland and contributes almost €500 million to the Irish economy. Employment in the sector is estimated at over 5,700 people with significant potential for growth. This creativity needs an outlet and we are delighted to see that our retail partners have been committed to driving the commercial agenda for Irish craft by allocating important shelf-space, supporting our marketing activities and sharing the wonderful story of Irish craft with their consumers.
The ‘Year of Craft 2011’ celebrations have delivered growing levels of consumer interest and engagement with Irish craft. The public interaction and participation in craft events throughout the year and resulting craft sales emphasise the desire an d appreciation for Irish craft. The Crafts Council of Ireland is dedicated to giving craft makers a voice, to help their remarkable work to be seen, appreciated and bought by consumers in Ireland and overseas. We are committed to growing the sector further and are actively seeking more retailers around the world who are keen to promote Irish craft in their stores in a meaningful way. We look forward to helping you do business in 2012.
Chairman,
Crafts Council of Ireland
Chief Executive, Crafts Council of Ireland.
Download pdf version of the Creative Island book