Crafty plan launched by Carlow local enterprise office
Carlow's Local Enterprise Office has just launched a plan to help nurture arts and crafts in the county
A NEW plan to help nurture arts and crafts in County Carlow was launched recently by the local council, through its Local Enterprise Office, (LEO).
The aim of the strategy, is to strengthen creative enterprise across the county and support the makers, designers and creative entrepreneurs who work within it. The launch brought together craftspeople, designers, creative business owners and supporters of the sector from across the county. Attendees heard the strategy was focused on building sustainable creative businesses and raising the profile of Carlow-made work at home and abroad.
LEO Carlow also announced its upcoming programme of supports for makers and creatives. The programme includes two trade missions, giving Carlow's creative businesses the opportunity to reach new markets and a series of new academies designed to build the business skills of those working in the creative sector.
The strategy recognised the craft and creative industries as a significant contributor to enterprise and employment in Co Carlow and as a sector with strong potential for growth. It set out how council would work with the creative community to develop that potential, from supporting individual makers at the start of their business journey to helping established creative enterprises scale and export.
According to the organisers, the launch event itself reflected the collaborative approach at the heart of the strategy. Open to all, it was designed to bring Carlow's craft and creative community together in one room, to connect practitioners with one another and with the supports available to them and to invite the sector to help shape its own future.
Details of upcoming trade missions and multiple academies, specifically designed for Carlow-based creatives, were given at the event, with more to be announced.
