Leitrim Design House welcomes you to an afternoon of fun and activity- A Taste of world Culture; an explosion of colour, sound and music. Celebrating culture and creativity, A Taste of World Culture, will display the sights, smells and sounds of ethnic origins, showcasing music, dance, arts and food from over ten nations across the globe. Crowds expected are in for a variety of treats as the event is jam packed with a show stopping schedule, all taking place in the Dock Arts Centre.

On our doorstep we have a rich and diverse cultural mix and to highlight this Leitrim Design House have designed a taste of world culture day which will include Indian and Chinese cookery demonstrations, dance performances from India, Latin America and China as part of the Carrick Water Music Festival. Enjoy song, dance, music and food from Armenia, China, India, Ireland, Kurdistan Latvia, Lithuania, Nigeria, Poland, Zimbabwe and more. This is very much a family event and all activities are free. Come along to the Leitrim Design House @ the Dock on Sunday the 11th July and sample a selection of food prepared by these countries. Food will be available from 12 noon and the performances start at 1pm.Many of the performances, workshops and demonstrations are being provided in partnership with the Belfast-based group, ArtsEkta - Northern Ireland’s leading ethnic arts organisation. There will also be samples of Indian, Libyan, Japanese and Chinese food available for visitors to sample and the day will “bring a whole new experience to people with attractions for all ages,”according to Artsekta Project Director, Nisha Tandon. She said “we are delighted to be collaborating with Leitrim Design House on their fabulous cultural diversity programme and this is a great opportunity for us to build on our cross-border links.We look forward to meeting lots of new people and to contributing to the vibrancy and diversity of this excellent event”.

ArtsEkta is Northern Ireland’s leading ethnic arts organisation and organises the Belfast Mela- Northern Ireland’s largest multi-cultural festival which takes place this year in Botanic Gardens on 28th & 29th August. The organisation works to address to address racism faced by people from ethnic minority backgrounds by developing festivals and innovative outreach programmes using the arts and cultures of ethnic minority communities.

The programme of events will include entertainment from a rich variety of traditions. Celtic Rythms who will join us for the afternoon are specialists in the very best of modern and traditional Irish Dancing. In fact they have proved to be one of the most successful dance troupes in their field, with performances from weddings to Broadway shows. Celtic Rhythm are renowned for extremely fast shows. A typical performance last approximately 35 minutes and consists of a medley of Irish Dances performed by 5 dancers. Based primarily on the hard shoe of Irish Dancing the show focuses on Speed, Rhythms, Formations and the raw sound from the floor. The show will include an a capella ( a dance performed without music), an audience participation and a tribute to Riverdance and Lord of the Dance.Celtic Rhythm employ 88 of Irelands finest dancers with troupes based in Dublin, Leitrim, Galway and Belfast. Many of their dancers perform with Riverdance.

There is something for all ages; cultural workshops for adults where for example you can try your hand at calligraphy; craft demonstrations and henna handpainting. Leitrim Design House artists, Brigitta Varadi, Niall Millar and Niamh Dempsy will run creative workshops for children of all ages which allow them to express their creativity through a wide range of stimulating, hands-on activities. A Taste of World Culture is delivered under the Leitrim Design House Raising Awareness of Different Cultures Programme and forms part of an exciting series of events planned by the organisation. The programme aims to raise awareness of our cultural mix through sharing traditions and trading skills and throughout the programme, the Leitrim Design House celebrates cultural diversity with an exciting calendar of events: intercultural events & cultural exchange; creative mornings for mother and toddlers; a creative club-sharing & trading skills; a book club-offering translations and exchanges; pot luck lunches-sharing food and stories; craft tasters; English conversation classes; discovery tours visiting our local attractions; children’s festival plus much more.

The Raising Awareness of Different Cultures Programme has been developed with the support of European Peace 111 funding.To find out more about the programme visit the 2 o Clock club hosted by the Leitrim Design House any Wednesday in the Dock Coffee Shop.To date Ireland, America, Poland, Latvia, India and our very own Kurdish community have been represented at the 2 o Clock club. Everyone is welcome –it’s an opportunity to chat and share experiences. Come along any Wednesday to the coffee shop at the Dock and find out more!

Also don’t miss our Craft Tasters-a great way to explore your creativity. You don’t need to have any experience. Come along and try your hand at a variety of crafts over the summer; Peg Loom Weaving with Niamh Dempsy; Toys from Tins with Nara Stephanyan; fun with felt with Brigitta Varadi; restyle your handbag from Alena Gurn and Millinary with Wendy Knight are just some of the craft tasters on offer. All activities are free but it is advisable to book.

Craft, design & art disciplines by their very nature allow people to explore each other’s culture, language and traditions. As a non-profit, organisation Leitrim Design House has been nurturing craft, culture and community in Leitrim for more than 14 years working in partnership with local, regional and national organisations to support the creation of traditional and contemporary crafts in the region.The Raising Awareness of Different Cultures project has been funded by the PEACE 111 Programme through the European Union’s European Regional Development Fund which is managed by the special EU Programmes Body.

For further information please contact Leitrim Design House on 071 96 50550/50533 or email info@leitrimdesignhouse.ie or visit www.leitrimdesignhouse.ie or join us on facebook.

The Nigeria in Leitrim day took place on Saturday 26th June and it was a massive success. From the beautiful aroma of authentic Nigerian food, the fabulous array of colourful costume and music that made the spirit dance!!

NIGERIA IN LEITRIM - 26th June 2010.

The Leitrim Design House are proud to be involved NIGERIA IN LEITRIM taking place on Saturday 26th June at the Market Yard in Carrick-on-Shannon. This will be a fantasical, colourful event with everything from making percussion instruments, mask making, carnival head dress making and then the grand finale - where you will get to wear all your wonderful creations!

Making percussion instruments: Time 1.00pm-2.40pm

Carnival dress making: 2.00pm-2.40pm

Carnival mask making: Time 3.00pm-3.40pm

Workshop Ages: 6-12years

Carnival Parade 5pm

——————————————————————————–

Come along between 2 & 4 and meet Helen Maguire from the Secret Garden. In the Secret Garden you will find all sorts of natural wonders and delights to soothe the mind, lift the heart and inspire the soul. 3 Dimensional flower cards, flower pendants,enchanted forests, and a fairy or two!

The Secret Garden will open it’s gates on Saturday,13th March, in the Leitrim Design House with a special 3 Dimensional Mother’s Day Greeting card Collection. 

Join us between 5 and 8pm on the 10^th December and meet our newest addition to the Leitrim Design House. Naomi Draper graduated in 2007 from the National College of Art and Design where she had specialised in glass. During her time in NCAD she completed studies in both the Czech Republic and Seattle. Directing the focus of her technical skills on Kiln-forming, her graduate work explored the possibilities of combining glass with metal in the kiln process. The work explored issues of protection and containment, directly drawing inspiration from textiles.

Since graduating Naomi has continued to explore this body of work further, through drawing and printing processes. Her new body of work, which will be launched in The Leitrim Design House exhibition space at the Dock, Carrick-on-Shannon, on Thursday the 10th of December, is composed of a series of fused glass panels. Each piece has been treated as an individual canvas; drawings are explored through painting and enamelling the surface of the glass.Addressing the accessibility of glass art, Naomi has developed this collection so that it can be easily hung in both a commercial and domestic setting, making these works a suitable and unusual gift to those who appreciate something different.

Naomi is a native of Boyle, where she now operates a small studio. She is delighted to accept special commissions for different occasions. We are pleased to welcome Naomi to the Leitrim Design House to showcase her new collection of glass work. She will be available to share her love for glass with you and speak to you directly about her work.We invite you to visit us on the 10th Dec, enjoy a glass of wine, browse the shop and meet with Naomi Draper.

Be inspired this Christmas

Are you looking for that special gift; affordable but with a difference; something that combines quality and creativity; Leitrim Design House is the place to visit. This December we are pleased to introduce a range of hand crafted foods created by the chefs from Castle Leslie in Monaghan

Drop in anytme during December

Join us for a complimentary mince pie and coffee enter our special Christmas draw and receive a 20% discount on selected products every Thursday, Friday and Saturday during December

Do you love hats? Then take a visit to the Leitrim Design House on Sat 28th Nov between 2-4 pm and meet milliner Wendy Knight from Wendy Louise Designs. Enjoy a chat with Wendy and have some fun trying on a selection of hats that will definitely make heads turn; find out how she produces her creations and the inspiration behind them

.

Wendy Knight, originally from Oxford in England, has always had a passion for hats. It’s in her blood, as her grandfather was a milliner and owned his own hat factory. Wendy Louise Designs offers unique designed handcrafted headwear and accessories to suit all occasions. Hand blocked hats, feather, beaded and fabric headpieces, evening bags and bridal headpieces all in sumptuous fabrics. Wendy’s new exclusive collection of winter felt designs will be available to purchase in the Leitrim Design House shop. All visitors will receive a ten euro voucher which can be used to purchase a hat from the shop or used towards a commission piece.

Eunan Sweeney, a native of Ballinamore County Leitrim is a self taught photographer who has been involved in photography for over 25 years. Well known for his Landscape Photography Eunan also works as a commercial photographer covering events and also undertaking portrait and commission work. His landscape portfolio is constantly expanding and includes a variety of work collected while travelling abroad and throughout Ireland. Many of his well known landscape photographs have been taken in the North West Region where the unspoilt countryside offers endless photographic opportunities.

Eunan’s photography has been published and collected worldwide and his website is regularly updated with new work. His photographs canbe purchased framed or unframed and are available in a range of sizes. Eunan develops, prints and frames all his images from his studio in County Leitrim ensuring full control over the quality of his finished photographs. Eunan joins us on the 28th of November along with Wendy Knight from Wendy Louise Designs. Wendy, a milliner will bring a collection of hats for you to try on. Eunan will record the fun!

Meet the Maker is a weekly craft event supporting local artists and craftworkers hosted by the Leitrim Design House inviting you to meet with individual artists, designers and craftspeople to view and talk about their work.For enquiries please phone the Leitrim Design House at 071 9650550 or email info@leitrimdesignhouse.ie.

Eunan and Wendy can be contacted directly through their websites.

www.eunansweeneyphotography.com

www.wendylouisedesigns.ie

Leitrim Design House launches collection of prints and watercolours of scenes from the North West.

On Sat 21 Nov the Leitrim Design House at the Dock will be launching a range of prints taken from the extensive collection of pen & ink drawings by local artist Sandra Vernon. Well known over the years for her portrayal of the buildings and streetscapes of the area, Sandra has taken the title of her collection, An Artists Eye from the pages of drawings she has been doing for the Leitrim Guardian over the years. This year she has used the medium of watercolour with her drawings and pleased with the reaction to them, decided to combine the paintings with a series of limited edition prints for this collection. The images mainly concentrate on Leitrim, but include some of Roscommon and Sligo as well. There will be approx 25 different scenes to start with, but with such an extensive collection to choose from it would be impossible to include everything, so if its not there please do ask; either the staff at the Design House or the artist herself. The prints will be mounted and in clear envelopes, but if one requires them in a frame that can be quickly organised. Sandra works mainly to commission, portraits, both human and animal as well as buildings and scenes. She will be available to meet you and discuss her work between 2 -4pm on Sat 21^st November in the Leitrim Design House at the Dock in Carrick on Shannon.

Meet the Maker is a weekly craft event supporting local artists and craftworkers hosted by the Leitrim Design House and they  invite you to meet with individual artists, designers and craftspeople to view and talk about their work.

For enquiries please phone the Design House at 071 9650550 or Sandra at 071 9625276, sandravernon@eircom.net

In today’s world positive news stories are becoming very rare and so it is with great pleasure, after two month of planning and preparation that The Leitrim Design House announce the re-launch of their retail gallery on November 12th at 5pm. The new shop fittings are a perfect frame for the wonderful display of locally made products. Staff and suppliers have worked hard to ensure a wide range of price points and a series of special shopping days are planned for the run up to Christmas.

County Leitrim has long been recognised as an area of emerging strength in terms of art, culture and craft activities. Leitrim Design House is a unique showcase reflecting this wealth of creativity. Based in the Dock Arts Centre, located in the heart of Carrick-on-Shannon, this unique centre of excellence represents artists working in ceramics, glass, paper, wood, textiles, metal and jewellery and highlights the wealth of innovation and design talent in Ireland today.
Craft businesses of which many are micro-enterprises, face particular challenges due to their small scale. Many are very small firms - indeed often only the owner is involved. Each of these businesses of which they are many in Leitrim represents a shining example of the talent, the imagination, the skills and the expertise that people in the community possess. In these recessionary times, it is important that we help one another and actively support local endeavours and initiatives. The Leitrim Design House Gallery is a unique shopping experience offering a wonderful opportunity to support local creative industry. You can support local business; discover pieces to treasure at affordable prices; give a gift to someone special knowing that quality and value are inherent to the piece. The redevelopment of the gallery has been made possible with the financial support of Leitrim Development Company. This redevelopment project is funded though the Leitrim Development Company, Rural Development Programme which is financed by the Irish Government under the Rural Development Programme Ireland 2007-2013 and by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in Rural areas
Please come along and celebrate the completion of this project with us. Many of the Artists and Makers will be in attendance that evening and can tell you a little of the story behind the product.
Visit our website www.leitrimdesignhouse.ie for information on meet the maker events and in-store promotions.

The Leitrim Design House, The Dock,Carrick-on-Shannon Tel: +353 71 965 0550/0533 www.leitrimdesignhouse.ie

 email: info@leitrimdesignhouse.ie, shop@leitrimdesignhouse.ie