Our Mission
Craft NI's mission is to build an integrated, entrepreneurial and vibrant contemporary crafts sector in Northern Ireland, actively supported by regional and local stakeholders, that contributes increasingly to the creative, cultural and economic life of Northern Ireland.
Craft Northern Ireland, is the sector-lead body for the promotion and development of the design-led contemporary craft industry in Northern Ireland. We support and promote the industry as an integral, entrepreneurial and vibrant part of the region's cultural and economic infrastructure.
The sector is made up of approximately 400 craft practitioners (designer-makers), craft studios, galleries and shops and a number of craft organisations.
Arts centres, museums, colleges and universities and heritage organisations also play vital role in promoting and developing the industry.
Our key partners include regional government and agencies, local government, cultural organisations, universities and colleges of further and higher education, private business and industry. Craft Northern Ireland’s core objectives for the development of the craft industry in Northern Ireland are:
- Advocacy and profiling
- Developing partnerships and regional infrastructure
- Raising quality awareness.
- The contemporary craft sector
Craft NI recognizes that the contemporary craft sector is broad and diverse. It encompasses practitioners who can be identified as designer-makers, applied artists, artists and designers who design and prototype for commercial manufacture, for the built environment and those working to a client brief or commission in the public and private sectors.
Quality Contemporary Craft
Quality is the key characteristic of all practice that Craft NI supports – work that:
is challenging and extends practice as well as ensuring high standards of technical skill and design:
does not seek to reproduce or restore but is innovative in its use of materials and aesthetic vision:
reflects the signature of the individual maker and demonstrates investigation of processes and critical enquiry at a high level.
A Future in the Making - Building an opportunity environment
Craft NI wants to build and develop a sustainable Opportunity Environment for designer-makers in Northern Ireland. This will focus on creating a supportive landscape across the region and beyond that will enable designer-makers and businesses to pursue and develop their own individual artistic, creative and business ambitions.
To do this we will prioritise our resources around three broad areas of development:
professional: supporting the sector in the parallel development of its creative and business practice;
infrastructural: developing the infrastructure, partnerships and resource investment, both regionally and locally, in support of the craft sector public awareness and engagement;
working with audiences in a process of education, raising awareness, appreciation, and in stimulating and securing markets.
For more information on Craft NI you can call us on 028 9032 3059 / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
