It is that time of year again when all we go just a bit art and craft mad! The Creative Peninsula, Ards and North Down’s major art festival, launched last week with the opening of the exhibitions in Ards Arts Centre. There is also an exhibition in North Down Museum. I have a piece in each. There is plenty going on. You can check out all the events on the Creative Peninsula website or pop into the Arts Centre and pick up a booklet
And its not just Ards and North Down, August Craft Month is also under way. This year Craft NI are working with the Design and Crafts Council in Kilkenny to highlight events North and South. You can see everything by visiting the Craft NI August Craft Month page.
https://creativepeninsula.andculture.org.uk/
https://craftni.org/augustcraftmonth2022/
I am pretty busy over the next few weeks, so take a deep breath – here is my list!
Creative Peninsula in the Square and Alfresco Art
Creative Peninsula in the Square
Friday 5th August 11am – 5pm
This is one of the main events of the Creative Peninsula. Conway square, in front of the town hall, will be transformed into a tented art and craft village. Come down and meet artists living and working in Ards and North Down.
https://creativepeninsula.andculture.org.uk/whats-on/creative-peninsula-square
Alfresco Art
Sunday 7th August 12-4pm
This event is a favourite with artists and visitors alike. Spend a relaxed sunday afternoon in the courtyard of North Down Museum in Bangor watching local artists demonstrate their skills Maybe even try your hand at something yourself. And there is nothing better to go with alfresco art than alfresco refreshments from the Coffee Cure. I’ll be there from 12 making a variety of paper birds.
https://creativepeninsula.andculture.org.uk/whats-on/alfresco-art-north-down-museum
Photo: Janine Boyd
Workshop – Developing Skills for Sketching from Life
I’ll be running a workshop at Ards Arts Centre to help you develop your drawing from life skills. There will be lots of short drawing exercises and plenty of paper and pencils to play with. Weather and time permitting we might go out into conway square to try and put it all into practice. It will be challenging, but hopefully fun as well!
Wednesday 10 August 10am – 1pm
If you are interested, you can book a place on the Creative Peninsula website here:
https://creativepeninsula.andculture.org.uk/classes/developing-skills-sketching-life-adele-pound
Creative Peninsula at the Ulster Folk Museum
Saturday 20th August 11am – 3pm
This is a new event for 2022. I am looking forward to spending the day demonstrating how I make my paper pigeons. You can find me in the school house!
https://creativepeninsula.andculture.org.uk/whats-on/creative-peninsula-ulster-folk-museum
North Down Craft Collective Pop up in Comber!
The North Down Craft Collective will be taking over a pop up shop at 4 Castle street, Comber from Tuesday 16th August, until Saturday 20th August. There will be different makers in residence each day from 10am – 4:00 pm.
I’ll be taking my turn on Wednesday 17th August,do call in and say hello if you are passing!
http://thecraftroomcomber.com/whats-on/north-down-craft-collective-at-comber-pop-up-shop/
Creative Peninsula at Boom Studios!
Now that I am part of the Boom studios family, I also get to join in with their August events as well!
Open Studios at Boom
Boom studio artists will be opening their doors for the Creative Peninsula. Call in to meet and buy from the artists, and get a look inside Bangor’s creative hub. Due to other commitments I will be there on Sunday 14th of August only this year.
Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th August
10am – 12pm
2pm – 4pm
Boom Studios pop up in Bloomfield Shopping Centre!
For the whole of August Boom studios will be taking over a unit in Bloomfeld shopping centre. You will be able to see and buy work from your friendly local artists who work in Boom studios in Bangor.