The Irish Craft Association is to support, assist, and help artists and craft people move forward in their business.
It is set up for everyone from students to ‘been around for a while’ creative people. It is also interested in having craft/art suppliers and services as members.
This association is set up with the intention of looking after every aspect of the craft industry on a personal level.
Not only is there membership for crafts people and artists, but suppliers and services for crafts and arts are also invited to join.
When people come together there is always a vast amount of experience that everyone can benefit from!
Feedback Meetings
FEEDBACK meetings are run by the Irish Craft Association, a casual meeting of like minded people, helped along with refreshments. It is definitely not a lecture or formal affair.
It really works on the individual and their needs.
FEEDBACK meetings can be: meeting others to discuss what is going on for them, to getting pointed in the right direction for a good course or connecting with the mentoring section of their local enterprise board. Hearing who craft people and artists think are good suppliers, where good fairs or retail outlets are, and in general listening to other peoples experiences
It gets back down to ground level; discussing what is really going on for you in your business, and being able to talk with others in the similar situations.
The meetings are called FEEDBACK, because unless it is meeting all your requirements, then it is not functioning properly. At the meetings you are directing the next topic to be covered, your feedback is vital.
Website
The Irish Craft Association website will be built with the intention of being a one-stop-shop for all craft person and artist needs.
There will be many data bases compiled out of this.
• A section will be dedicated to fairs, markets, and outlets for crafts.
• A section will be dedicated to suppliers, so they can be available directly to their customers, and the craft person has a list in front of them to access good suppliers that will look after all their needs.
(With your membership card you can get a reduction from the suppliers that display the Irish Craft Association discount sign)
• Services will also be covered, with things like book-keeping, taxes, web building, blogging, setting up on-line shops. Insurance. Mentoring and personal meetings to support and assist you.
• Direct links to the association, guild or society that caters for your craft.
Official Launch
The launch of the Irish Craft Association will be at the Christmas Party for NOTICEBOARD (in January when the madness dies down! Dates to be confirmed)
Membership
To open with a bargain is always appealing and will help the ball rolling, so there is an early bird membership fee.
If you join before the official opening in January then the fee is only 50Euro. You will receive your membership card that will allow you to use the discounts in the listed suppliers.
Insurance through group discount is available to you and the feedback meetings will cost you the price of a cup of coffee and biscuit(s).
NOTICEBOARD has to become a business that pays for itself, and so as a supply or service member, from the opening date you will get 4 Noticeboard adverts a year. Non-members will have to pay 20Euro per ad.
Space on the website is also included; you get your own page, pictures of your product, every detail about you and how to contact you.
The directories of fairs, suppliers and services will be readily available and constantly updated.
After the launch membership goes up to 70Euro to join.
Events will come up that you can avail of like a questions and answers session with an accountant, so you ask exactly what is relevant to you about tax, sole trading etc.
THE ASSOCIATION HAS YOU AS THE SOLE INTEREST.
The Irish Craft Association aims to provide a personal service. In order to do this, we need some information about where your business is right now and where you want it to go. This is put on the application form so I can start providing you with a good service from the beginning.
= = = = = = = = = = = =
Application forms will be posted to those interested in availing the early bird membership. Please email you name and address to Karen.noticeboard@gmail.com
Application forms can also be collected at any Feedback meeting.
Completed forms need to be posted back with the completed identification card, and cheque or postal order for 50 Euro.
Further payment arrangements are being organized.
( Members: All data is true on date of publish, if any details need to be changed, you will be notified by email personally.)
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. You can also keep updated by subscribing to Irish Craft Association by Email. Thanks for visiting!