As part of the development of the tourist sector in Inishowen, Go Visit Inishowen this year is launching for the first time a “Meet The Maker” week to celebrate and raise awareness of our unique local Arts & Crafts across Inishowen. The event will run from Monday 14th – Friday 18th July and will include Open Days, a small exhibition at the Tourist Centre as well as ongoing profiling of our Arts & Crafts across the region.
Niall McCaughan, Manager at Go Visit Inishowen commented: “We are delighted to take this opportunity to profile Inishowen’s Arts & Craft offer and to encourage locals and visitors to check it out for themselves. Throughout the week, several of our Arts and Craft creative’s will be opening their doors to give tours and demonstrations. Participants taking part so far include Glendowen Craft Shop, Ballagh Studio, Big Green Art, Mary Crowley’s Artists Studio & Gallery, Moville Pottery, The Glen Art Studio & Gallery, Inishowen Bogwood Sculptures, Silver Birch Gallery & Studio, Inishowen Spinning Wheels, and many more. These demonstrations and tours will take place at their location as well as in the Visit Carndonagh Tourist Office.
Separately, several of the makers have also provided samples of their work for a mini showcase exhibition at our Tourist Office in Buncrana, including Glendowen Craft, Tweedilydee Handmade Donegal Tweed, Moville Pottery and Inishowen Bogwood Sculptures. As importantly, we also will be profiling many of the main artists from across Inishowen on Social Media and the like.
Also during our “Meet The Maker” Week, Irish Hands, a new local platform for supporting & championing local creative’s, on Wednesday 16th are organising a “Creative Experiences” info event at Artlink Fort Dunree, gathering practitioners together to discuss how to craft experiences that resonate with tourists, visitors and art lovers.
David Leonard, Wild Atlantic Way Programme Officer with Fáilte Ireland, commented:
“The ‘Meet the Maker’ initiative is a fantastic example of how the Inishowen Destination and Experience Development Plan (DEDP) is being brought to life. One of the core goals of the DEDP is to enhance the visitor experience by showcasing the authentic stories, skills, and traditions of the region. This event not only celebrates the incredible talent of Inishowen’s makers but also reflects the power of collaboration between tourism providers, artists, and community representatives. It’s through these partnerships that Inishowen continues to grow as a must-visit destination on the Wild Atlantic Way.”
For more information on the week, check out https://www.govisitinishowen.com/meet-the-maker-week-launched-to-celebrate-inishowens-arts-crafts/ as well as our Facebook page.