‘Bench to business’ design academy set define Irish pathways to craft
A NEW programme of support for the growth of Irish design and craft was launched recently at Showcase Ireland which took place at the RDS Dublin Ireland, the new training academy set for full delivery of a comprehensive curriculum programme within weeks.
Mary Jo Hoyne at the launch of the new DCCI Academy
The new Design & Crafts Council Ireland Academy is already delivering post-graduate educational programmes to designers and makers from around the country with additional training and education from beginners to undergraduates set to come onstream in March. Training and education will be delivered online and in person at the DCCIA in Kilkenny City, Sessions House in Thomastown and at additional locations due to be announced this year.
DCCI CEO Rosemary Steen introduced the new academy at Showcase Ireland (pictured with overall craft and design winner Tom King of An Gobha)
Irish Minister of State Simon Coveney attended Showcase Ireland to officially open the Talks Stage where the DCCIA was launched by its directors, Mary Jo Hoyne and Maria Couchman. The academy will initially focus on start-up and growth businesses, eCommerce, innovation and business training in its first year.
“We see this launch as a rebirth and we see it as a driver of change in the DCCI,” said Mary Jo Hoyne of the new academy. “It’s about taking the knowledge and skills from the past 50 years and insuring that it serves the craft community for the future. This will be incorporated with bench to business entrepreneurial skills and it will offer very clear and defined pathways.”
The last few months have been busy ones for the DCCI, the new learning programme culminating a series of events that included the ‘Made Local’ initiative with Showcase Ireland at the pinnacle. The DCCIA offers training and education built on 50 years of experience in alignment with the needs of the Irish design and craft community.
“This was the launch of our new DCCI academy,” said chief operating officer Rosemary Steen. “I am so excited when I see what is going to happen in the (Irish design and craft) sector around this.”
The Design & Crafts Council Academy is online at https://www.dcci.ie/ or phone +353 56 7761804.
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Image credits: Jacqueline O’Neill, Kim Mullahey, DCCI
