Ards Crafts was established in 1996 by Ards Borough Council as a showcase retail craft and design centre for local traditional and contemporary craft. Its bright and contemporary interior provides the perfect platform for a rich array of craft, ranging from creative ceramics and decorative pottery to stylish woodturning, textiles, jewellery, mixed media and glass. Customers can avail of a wedding list and gift wrapping service.

Craft Development Services

'As the Craft Development function of Ards Borough Council, Ards Crafts has developed key strategic alliances to significantly raise the profile of Craft throughout the region and Northern Ireland. Craft is one of the Creative Industries sectors which is growing strongly and we will continue to support creativity in as many ways as possible' - Heather Parker, Craft Development Manager for Ards Borough Council.

Partnerships

Leonardo da Vinci 'Sustainable Craft Networks' Project

Ards Borough Council has recently participated in a two year European Lifelong Learning project with four European countries; Ireland, Finland, Spain and Italy to investigate how craft businesses and the networks and organisations which represent them can become more innovative and sustainable'. Ards Borough Council representatives as well as local craft businesses from the Council's Creative Peninsula Craft network have benefited from sharing knowledge and best practice and their findings have been recorded in four video diaries.

Visit : http://www.sustainablecraftnetworks.ning.com for information, pictures and video clips.

For all Project results visit the European Shared Treasure (EST) Website

http://www.europeansharedtreasure.eu/detail.php?id_project_base=2009-1-IE1-LEO04-00718

Find out more about the Leonardo programme at www.leonardo.org.uk

Following these visits by Council and craft business representatives, a local ceramic artists from Ards has visited Lapau in Finland to coordinate an international textiles workshop and our Finnish Partners have recently visited Ards to explore further opportunity for cultural and community links.Visit Sustainable Craft Networks .

Training & Development

Ards Creates

Are you a Creative practitioner living and working in the Ards Peninsula? Or are you keen to find out more about who and where the creative businesses are in the Ards areas?

Why not join or visit http://www.ardscreates.com a website designed to showcase the many creative businesses in the Ards area. It is free to join and free to use and is entirely driven by the creative community living and working in the Borough.

Supported by the Creative Industries Innovation Fund

Visual Artists Ireland

If you are a visual artist and meet membership criteria, then take advantage of joining this all Ireland network and avail of many important upcoming training and development opportunities for your practice. Follow the link in the 'Links section' at the bottom of this page.

Creative Choices is the first online service to provide the tools, knowledge and networks to support every individual and business to get in, and get on, in the creative industries and cultural sector.

Follow the link below to take a look at this very informative site which covers all regions of the UK, or sign up to their monthly newsletter for regular updates on career development opportunities.

The Cultural Leadership Programme and Creative Choices are also offering a social networking tool for creatives, available through this site. Click on 'Networks' to get started!

Events

The 2013 Art in the Loft exhibition programme will run from the 30th March to 31st August 2013 in the Loft Gallery of Portaferry Tourist Information and Visitor Centre. Brochure with full details of all the exhibitions, workshops and artist talks will be available mid March 2013.

The 2013 Meet the Maker workshop and demonstration series is now available. Click the image above to download it in PDF format.

For more information on the Meet the Maker 2013 series, visit Ardscreates or contact Ards Crafts for more information Or download your Exhibition Programme.

Download a copy Ards Crafts, 'connecting craft, creating opportunity' by clicking the image below :

Other Support Services & Useful Links

Ards Crafts provides Business Support Signposting, access to training and networking opportunities. Useful information can also be found on the following links :

www.ardscreates.com

www.craftni.org

www.craftnidirectory.org

www.creative-choices.co.uk

www.ardsart.com

www.craftanddesigncollective.com

www.artscouncil-ni.org

www.ccoi.ie

www.visualartists.ie

www.sustainablecraftnetworks.ning.com

How can you contact us?

Ards Crafts is situated within the Ards Tourist Information Centre (beside the bus station) at the following address :

Ards Crafts
31 Regent Street
Newtownards
BT23 4AD

If you have any comments or suggestions about the services offered by Ards Crafts or would like to know more about our work, please do not hesitate to contact us either in person, in writing, by telephone, email or fax.

Tel 028 9182 6846
Fax 028 9182 6681

ards.crafts@ards-council.gov.uk

Our opening times are :

Mon. - Fri. 9.15am - 5.00pm
Sat. 9.15am - 5.00pm