Cork Craft Month Returns This August With Biggest Programme Yet

Cork Craft Month is set to return this August with its biggest programme yet, featuring over 90 workshops, demonstrations, exhibitions and markets connecting the public directly with Cork's vibrant craft community. A third of the programming is free, and the full schedule is now available to view at corkcraftanddesign.ie.

The festival is organised by Cork Craft & Design, a social enterprise representing more than 110 professional makers and artists. Running throughout August in association with August Craft Month, the festival celebrates both traditional craftsmanship and contemporary making through a diverse programme of hands-on experiences, exhibitions and demonstrations, shining a spotlight on the creativity, skill and innovation of Cork's thriving craft community.

The programme spans ceramics, textiles, woodwork, jewellery, printmaking and contemporary design, offering opportunities for people of all ages to discover craft, learn directly from makers and gain a deeper appreciation for the creativity and expertise behind handmade work. Highlights include a two-day porcelain workshop with artist Sara Roberts in Nohoval and a willow weaving workshop with Cois Laoi Willow in Greywood Arts.

A major new highlight this year is an Open-Air Makers Market at Douglas Court Shopping Centre on 7 August, from 10am to 4pm, bringing together a curated selection of Cork makers and artists in a vibrant public showcase of locally made craft. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet makers, browse and purchase handcrafted work, and learn more about the stories and processes behind each piece.

Further expanding the festival's reach this year is a planned Pop-Up shop at The Glucksman Gallery at UCC, running from 1 to 31 August. The programme will also feature the annual showcase, Celebrating 21 Years of Cork Craft & Design: "Crafting Legacy" Members Showcase Exhibition, running at St Peter's from 13 to 31 August, with a launch evening on 20 August. The annual Emerge graduate exhibition will be at The Gallery at No 46, Grand Parade, from 30 July to 17 August.

Two-thirds of the programme will consist of hands-on workshops, allowing visitors to experience the making process first-hand. These include free Crafting Connections workshops, a Cork County Library Project supported by the Cork County Council Creative Communities Grant, which includes Willow Weaving with Cois Laoi Willow at Macroom Library on 22 August, Beginner Embroidery with Sarah Buckley at Mallow Library on 22 August, and a Lino Print Workshop with John Bastow at Bandon Library on 7 August.

Over a third of events are family-friendly, including a Lino Print Workshop with John Bastow at Fota House on 15 August, a Make Your Own Puppet Workshop at Blackwater Valley Makers in Fermoy on 14 August, a Felting Camp with Woolly Crafts at Greywood Arts from 19 to 21 August, and a Heritage Week Fun Family Rope Day, featuring skipping, tug of war and rope making with Irish flax, at Kilcoe Studios in Ballydehob on 16 August.

Ava Hayes, Festival Director of Cork Craft Month, said:

"Cork Craft Month is all about bringing people closer to craft and the makers behind it. This year's programme offers more opportunities than ever for people to discover new skills, meet makers and experience the creativity, expertise and passion that goes into handmade work.

From exhibitions and demonstrations to hands-on workshops and new public events such as the Douglas Court Open Air Makers Market, we've created a programme that invites people to engage with craft in a meaningful and accessible way while celebrating the incredible talent that exists across Cork.

I would like to sincerely thank our funders, supporters and attendees, whose generosity and continued investment will allow us to deliver another vibrant and ambitious programme of events."

Michael Whyte, Chair of Cork Craft & Design and owner of Ro Óg Wooden Toys, added:

Craft plays an important role in Cork's cultural identity, connecting us to our heritage while continuing to inspire innovation and creativity today. Across the county, makers are preserving traditional skills, developing new approaches and contributing to a vibrant creative sector.

Cork Craft Month shines a spotlight on that contribution, helping people understand the value of locally made craft while supporting the talented makers whose work enriches our communities, economy and cultural life."

The Principal Funder for Cork Craft Month is the Local Enterprise Office, with support also from Event Funders, Design & Crafts Council Ireland, August Craft Month, Cork County Council, Cork City Council, Pure Cork, Fáilte Ireland, Ireland's Ancient East, Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, Creative Ireland, Cork Education and Training Board, and Munster Technological University.

The full programme is available at corkcraftanddesign.ie and at Cork Craft & Design's stores at Douglas Woollen Mills and Douglas Court Shopping Centre.