The Thatched Cottage in the Craft Village will host the launch.
Derry City Council will tomorrow launch a new year-long Craft Development Programme to encourage and facilitate the development and growth of the craft sector in the city.
Part funded by Derry City Council, Invest Northern Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund under the Sustainable Competitiveness Programme for Northern Ireland, the programme will run until 30 June next year.
The launch, taking place in the Craft Village in the city centre, will bring together designer-makers, crafters and craft organisations across the city as well as key sectoral agencies.
On display will be the winning entry of a recent competition for crafters to create trophies for the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.
The trophies, which have been designed and created by DocPot, will be presented to the winning Clipper crews next week, bringing Derry crafts to an international audience.
Mayor of Derry, Cllr Brenda Stevenson said the programme was an “exciting platform” to raise the profile and visibility of craft in the city to a national and international audience and recognised the important role of craft in contributing to cultural, social and economic prosperity.
She added: “The crafts sector cuts across the fabric of tourism, industry, health, social and economic development, visual arts and culture.
“The programme seeks to address obstacles to the growth of the sector through a range of initiatives covering events, exhibitions, craft trail, networks, business support programmes, marketing and e-commerce.”
The launch of the Craft Development Programme will take place tomorrow from 10.15am to 12.15pm in the Thatched Cottage of the Craft Village.
Places are free but should be booked in advance.
The launch will provide details of support available to craft businesses in the Derry City Council area.
One of the first initiatives to be developed is an Export Programme which will provide support to existing craft businesses to develop capacity to export and to participate in exhibitions/ tradeshows.
The deadline for applications to the Export Programme is 16 July next.
To book a place at the launch or for further information on the Export Programme or other elements of the Craft Development Programme contact Deirdre Harte, Craft Development Programme, Derry City Council, 98 Strand Road, Derry BT48 7NN, telephone 028 71 365151 extension 6948 or email [email protected]
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