Get creative on the Causeway Coast with our wealth of local talent

This year's August Craft Month sees a new event on the calendar '“ a Mini Festival of Craft on the world famous Causeway Coast.
Louise McLean's workLouise McLean's work
Louise McLean's work

‘Creative Coast’, which has been organised by the Causeway Coast Artists collective, is a series of great craft workshops for adults and children during August.

Artist and photographer Carol Hutton said: “It’s a delight to be running our first Creative Coast festival as part of August Craft Month. It is a wonderful chance for members of the public to sign up for short workshops to learn a new skill and have a new experience.

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“We felt most of the craft activity has been concentrated around Belfast, Holywood and North Down.

“We are hoping to try to start something like Creative Peninsula Festival in Ards here on the North Coast.”

“This is our first attempt and we hope that it will grow in the future. Causeway Coast Artists collective are made up of artists, craftspeople and photographers and the series of workshops are an attempt to let people have a go.”

All adult workshops will take place at Portballintrae Village Hall but there are a series of other workshops aimed at children at the Designerie in Bushmills.

The workshops in Portballintrae are:

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· Monday Aug 8: Painting by the Sea with Harry McMahon and Fused Glass with Natasha Duddy

· Tuesday Aug 9: Coastal Basket-making with Louise McLean and Illustrative Calligraphy with Janet Millar

· Wednesday Aug 10: Developing Still Life with Barry Williamson and Introduction to Agate Ceramics with Lorna Noble.

· Thursday, Aug 11: Glass painting with Louise McLean and Decorative Necklace-making with Jenny Methven.

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· Friday, Aug 12: Felt Wrap with Jacki Sleator and Japanese Indigo and Shibori with Catherine Quinn.

There will also be an August Craft Fair in Portballintrae Village Hall on August 20 from 10.30am to 4.30pm and an art sale over the August Bank Holiday on Saturday, August 27 11am to 5pm; Sunday, August 28 1-5pm and Monday, August 29 1-4pm.

Carol added: “Bushmills is booming as a centre for craft and art.

“We now have the 1608 Gallery and the Designerie, a fantastic arts and crafts social enterprise.

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“They are putting on a series of workshops with a coastal theme for children during the festival.

“There is a lot of talent on the North Coast that is only being discovered now.

“It is the first year of something really special going on in August.”

For more information go to www.causewaycoastartists.com

For full details of all August Craft Month events, visit the Craft NI website: www.craftni.org and click on the August Craft Month section.

To find out about all the makers and events in your area, click on the interactive craft map.

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