Source, the cross border international programme for the development of rural creativity in the border counties of Fermanagh, Leitrim, Sligo and Roscommon, is helping creative businesses in the Fermanagh area to flourish.
As part of the programme, 6 participants from Fermanagh have been chosen to present their work to the international buying market on the Source stand at Showcase Ireland 2006, Ireland’s international trade fair for craft, gift, fashion, jewellery and interiors.
There is a diverse range of producers currently involved with the Source programme including jewellery manufacturers, clothing, ceramic, glass and stone works. Alongside this, Source caters for businesses involved in photography, design, web development, performing arts and public relations.
Participants from the Fermanagh area include handcrafted jewellery manufacturers Angela Kelly from Florencecourt and Tony Keown from Melvin Craft in Garrison, photographer Gail McGowan from Enniskillen and contemporary glass and art producer Sean Campbell from Belleek.
Participant Angela Kelly said,
“Source brings people in the creative industries together. It offers the opportunity to meet other people in the same industry and find out what they are doing. It also offers vital training and support to help successfully market your business. The Source programme is certainly beneficial to the creative industry network in this area. We hope that Showcase Ireland 2006 will provide an opening to the international buying market for Source participants”
Catherine Ryan, Manager of FLAG said,
“The response to the Source programme in Fermanagh has been fantastic. We have a number of well known producers on board as well as those who are in the initial stages of setting up their businesses. We are delighted at the prospect of some of the participants from Fermanagh having the opportunity to highlight their work at this year’s Showcase Ireland which is attended each year by buyers from around the world.”
“We have a number of training sessions planned, profiling opportunities, a trade mission to Sweden and the launch of our e-commerce website to look forward to and hope that Source will not only provide a support network for participant businesses but that it will also highlight the north-west region as an area of creative excellence.”
The programme, which was only launched late last year is affiliated with a similar initiative in the Vasternorrland region of Sweden and already has signed up 260 participants from across the region.
Funded by the LEADER Transnational Action II Programme and managed by Fermanagh Local Action Group (FLAG), Sligo LEADER Partnership and Arigna LEADER (Leitrim and North Roscommon), Source provides training, grants and exposure for small and start up businesses in the creative sector.
Creative industries contribute significantly to the development and regeneration of disadvantaged rural areas. This project uniquely brings creative businesses together to network and share expertise while helping to raise the profile of the area as a centre of viable economic opportunity.
Source will shortly be launching an e-commerce website, www.ruralcreativity.com, where many participants will have access to an international buying audience.
Source will have 29 exhibitors from Leitrim, Sligo, Roscommon, Fermanagh and Sweden displaying products on their stand at Showcase in Dublin’s RDS from 22- 25th January.
source: developing rural creativity at Showcase 2006, RDS, Dublin
Pictured on the source: developing Rural Creativity stand at Showcase 2006 L to r:
Jacinta Freeman, Source; Catherine Ryan, manager,FLAG; Lisbeth Malm, Anna-Karin Hulling and Eleanore Sellin of Sweden; Padraig McLoughlin, Chairperson, Arigna Leader
