CREATES, which is taking place in the Swift Cultural Centre, runs from August 16 to 17, featuring over 25 members taking part in 13 workshops, five demonstrations, an art exhibition and a craft fair — as Meath Made celebrates the wonderful palette of creative businesses that are found in the Boyne Valley.
The Meath Made CREATES festival is part of a wider programme to celebrate August Craft Month with the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland (DCCI).
The full schedule is now available to view and book on the Swift Cultural Centre website.
Designed and organised by Meath Made, Meath’s creative collective representing over 38 designers, makers and crafters, this year’s event sees the CREATES festival expand to feature an exhibition showcasing work in paint, ceramics, textiles, mixed media and lots more.
The festival kicks off with an opening exhibition on Friday, 15 August, at 6pm, offering visitors a chance to meet, mix and mingle with the creative community whilst perusing the exhibition. All the pieces at the exhibition will be available for sale and guests can commission works from their favourite artists.
On Saturday, 16 August, and Sunday, 17 August, the CREATES festival will host a day long craft fair (10am to 5pm), featuring over 23 crafters, selling their products. People are encouraged to come in and browse the wonderful selection of products on offer and learn about some of the unique pieces that are available from all corners of the county.
Meath Made are keen to welcome in the public, not only to encourage people to think and shop locally but also to allow the public to connect with makers and have a chance for these talented creatives to tell the story behind their craft business, explain the creative process and help consumers understand the benefits of sourcing locally made products. The craft fair affords people a chance to look, touch and feel the products and understand the quality of skill that goes into making each piece, all of which are unique and made to last.
13 Creative workshops will run during the weekend in the Swift Cultural Centre. Visitors can participate in weaving, painting, drawing, felting, paint a piece of pottery, and lots more.
For younger children, there is a chance to participate in a children's woodland wonders workshop making a fun, creative piece with offcuts of wood, pinecones and seeds, as well as an enjoyable jewellery making workshop with local designer Síobhan Daly. Children of all ages can also paint their own pottery piece and add to their family’s tableware collection or gift to a special friend.
Older children and teenagers can join in too by learning a new skill like upcycling a garment with the Japanese art of repair, creating a small, lidded box in a ceramic workshop, or trying portraiture with paper and pencil.
This year, CREATES will again offer a huge variety of hands-on workshops which signals a strong shift toward participatory experiences that connect the public directly with the makers and the making process. For visitors who wish to watch, look and listen to the creatives there are five demonstrations taking place, showcasing pottery throwing, crochet lace, weaving a sugán chair, traditional sign writing and live portraiture with a sitter.
From traditional methods to modern experimentation, highlights include weaving your own coaster on mini loom with Bréidín na Bóinne, Wet felting a bouquet of flowers with Caoimhe Tuthill of Boann Irish Felt, Lampshade making with Wren and Mabel, Hand painting a sign with gold lettering with Megan McDermott to creating Positivity pebbles with Rebecca Maguire.
One of the highlights of the weekend is the Meet the Makers Talk with this year featuring internationally acclaimed fashion designer and creative director of UPA Kidswear, Vaida Raiscuite.
Vaida is a long time Trim resident and will speak of her creative journey, founding her UPA Kidswear brand and the years of creativity that brought her idea to reality.
Anita Reynolds, Chairperson of Meath Made and member of the organising committee of CREATES said: "I am delighted to see CREATES return to Trim this year. Last year was the first year and we were blown away by the response from the public - the interest in workshops from both locals and visitors was amazing and shows here is a real hunger for experimental type events.”
Speaking from her studio in Ballivor, Anita goes on to say: “Myself and the entire organising committee of Meath Made are so proud to bring the CREATES festival to Trim again this year and engage directly with local people as well as meeting with international guests who are enjoying a holiday in Meath.
“There is so much to do for everyone, whether you come by yourself or come with your family. the door is open to everyone all weekend long and we look forward to seeing everyone at CREATES.”
Additional events include live harp playing on both days by Jennifer Leahy from Kells and the Beanery vintage coffee truck will be on site both days to serve delicious local cakes and hot and cold drinks.
Kieran Kehoe, Chief Executive of Meath County Council, said: “Meath Made CREATES is all about opportunity, celebration and visibility. Showcasing the creative works of craft designer makers from all around County Meath in one unique setting during a festival of creativity right in the heart of Trim is a great addition to our already jam-packed tourism calendar of events on offer to both our domestic and international visitors.
"Having festivals like this throughout the county encourage people to shop local and support small businesses to grow in scale, which is something I am very keen to support.
"CREATES Festival also offers our international visitors a very unique experience to meet with makers, participate in very hands-on workshops, making memories of their time in Meath as well as spending locally.”
Chief Executive Kehoe points out that a point of pride for all in the county is Meath’s reputation for creativity, with Brú na Bóinne home to the largest collection of megalithic artworks in Western Europe, as well as national treasures such as the Book of Kells and the Tara Brooch having strong creative connections to the Royal County.
He continued: “Meath has established itself as a creative centre so supporting our creative maker community is something we continuously work on, alongside our team in the Arts Office, Economic Development team and Local Enterprise Office, Meath, who have a range of business transformation programmes such as LEAN for Business, Digital for Business and Green for Business for the creative community as well as mentoring and international trade development supports.”
Meath Made is a membership association open to skilled craft workers in Meath, supported by Local Enterprise Office Meath and the Economic Development team at Meath County Council.
For more information,go to www.meathmade.com, or follow Meath Made on Instagram and Facebook.
To book a workshop, click here.