Call for Irish artists and makers

Catherine Keenan's 'Eye Candy ' a set of 3 colourful glass sculptures
Catherine Keenan's 'Eye Candy ' a set of 3 colourful glass sculptures

Irish artists/makers are sought for In the Window art/craft exhibit at the Bluecoat Display Centre, linked to #LIF2020 theme “exchange”. Submit product/exhibition ideas by Mon 6 July 2020 (extended from 1 Jun). Work can be drawn from existing collections, but preference is given to work made within the last 2 years.

Note: We understand Coronavirus/Covid-19 *may* affect dates and timings for this exhibit, but presently we are living in the hope that lock-downs will have passed for October. Consequently, we are pursuing the commission until such a time as we cannot. At that point, if we cannot make Oct 2020 dates work, we will consier online galleries, postponing physical exhibits and agreeing dates as we proceed.

For five years the Bluecoat Display Centre has partnered the Liverpool Irish Festival, selecting a contemporary Irish craft maker to exhibit here – In the Window– for the month of October. This year, we would like the In the Window maker to link in to #LIF2020’s theme “exchange”, inviting submissions from makers across crafts and the applied arts.

Bluecoat Display Centre and Liverpool Irish Festival are delighted to be working with the Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) again, who will support the call out and contribute towards transport costs. The selection panel will be made up of representatives from the Bluecoat Display Centre, Liverpool Irish Festival and DCCI.

Criteria and submission requirement – Deadline Mon 6 July 2020 (extended from 1 Jun 2020).

Open to any professional Irish craft maker, living and working in Ireland; in any discipline (although consideration should be given to suitability for display In the Window (see the dimensions in image below)). We ask that the work shares a link with Liverpool Irish Festival’s 2020 theme: “Exchange”. Use this link to read the full artstic statement and creative call for #LIF2020. The exhibition work does not have to be new but all work should be available for sale. Send your exhibition ideas/product images by email to: [email protected]. We require a

  • current biography/CV
  • relevant selection of 5 images (maximum size per image 2MB) with prices
  • statement about your work and how it is relevant to the LIF theme (available here).

The selected maker will be announced within 6 weeks of submission deadline.

Space dimensions

Click to expand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Context

Bluecoat Display Centre (BDC) is an independent, regional centre for artistic activity that brings together craft makers and the public in an environment that encourages creativity, collaboration and the exchange of ideas. A registered charity since 2010, based in Liverpool city centre, BDC runs a gallery; education and community outreach programmes and provides over 60 local and 300+ nationally selected contemporary craft makers and designers a retail platform to display and sell their work. BDC originated as one of this country’s earliest craft and design galleries in 1959, the first public gallery space within Bluecoat; who are our landlords. We are an advocate, facilitator and audience maker for contemporary crafts.

The Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) is the national agency for the commercial development of Irish designers and makers, stimulating innovation, championing design thinking and informing Government policy. DCCI‘s activities are funded by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation via Enterprise Ireland. DCCI currently has over 60 member organisations and more than 3,000 registered clients.

Liverpool Irish Festival (LIF) brings Liverpool and Ireland closer together using arts and culture. It is this use of arts and culture as an instrument for observing, learning, sharing and debating Irishness, in the particular context of Liverpool, which makes us unique. We represent Northern Ireland, the Republic and the Irish diaspora’s creativity throughout the festival. Our thematic approach to programming, critical-thought and curation develops depth, resonance and inclusion. In this context, we believe the Liverpool Irish Festival is the only Irish arts and culture led festival in the world. We can’t find another!

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