Ards Creates European Crafts Connections

Ards is to make craft connections across Europe after successfully bidding to join a European programme dedicated to supporting skills development and training.

Four local craft businesses - Karl Harron, Lotus De Wit, Discovery Glass and Shauna McGowan - all members of the Council’s Creative Peninsula craft network, as well as arts, crafts and economic development staff from Ards Borough Council are embarking on the two-year ‘Sustainable Craft Networks’ project, which will take them on visits to four European regions - Ireland, Finland, Spain and Italy – to record how craft businesses and their networks are supported in these countries.

Using video diaries and video blogs, the group’s experiences will lead to new initiatives for future training and development in the local crafts sector, as well as options for continued European cooperation.

“We have a vibrant creative economy in Ards and this programme will give us an invaluable opportunity not only to share our experiences, but also to build links with other creative regions in Europe and to learn from them. Ultimately, our work over the next two years will contribute to strengthening and sustaining the crafts sector and supporting local craft workers to develop their skills, innovation and competitiveness,” said Heather Parker, Crafts Development Manager with Ards Borough Council.

The ‘Sustainable Craft Networks’ project is part of the Leonardo European Lifelong Learning programme. The group from Ards will make its first exchange visit to Louth Craft Mark this week (4th – 6th November).