source developing rural creativity, crafts Sligo Fermanagh Leitrim and Sweden, helping artists with trade, marketing and training activities

Source seeks to develop the capability of emerging creative businesses through industry specific, added-value business courses and resources to steer these businesses to sustainability and profit. It provides industry specific training and advisory support services in terms of an emphasis on interdisciplinary courses, networking, decision-making, and trends and technology. Importantly, training concentrates on the importance of design and marketing.

Spring Training Programme successful

The 2007 SOURCE Spring Training programme offered a very exciting line up of courses & workshops for the creative industries sector. These included Digital Photography, The Art of Start, training thro' the performing arts, taxation mentoring sessions, Get your spark back workshops and Innovative Design workshops. We hope to offer a comprehensive list of training programmes for Autumn 2007 so keep an eye on this space for further updates.

But we are currently offering individual mentoring sessions with Pat McCarthy - see below for more details.

Autumn 2007 Training Programme

Pat McCarthy Mentoring Sessions

Pat McCarthy will undertake an ‘on-site’ visit with each Craft enterprise for a 3 hour Design Audit of the business. This audit will identify the key strengths and weaknesses within each business, in terms of products, product design, placement in the marketplace, packaging & promotional materials, branding, and business potential.

These individual mentoring sessions will be carried out by Pat McCarthy, on site at your own Studio or Workshop and will be focused directly on your product and business. This will be an ideal opportunity to access advice and recommendations for your business from a consultant who has hands-on knowledge of today’s consumer, competitive marketplace, and trends.

Pat McCarthy studied Fashion and Design Technology in Manchester completing his Post Graduate Degree in Cork, receiving a scholarship from the Confederation of Irish Industry.

He developed the export market in the United States for Cork based company Eurostyle Ltd. Going on to form his own company in New York designing and manufacturing the ladies fashion range ‘Claire de Lune’, selling to top department and speciality stores across the US, UK and Europe. Pat also developed a brand contemporising Irish traditional menswear for the urban market, which sold in Ireland, the UK and the US through catalogues, department stores and boutiques.

Pat McCarthy Design Studio was set up in the mid nineties providing Business and Training solutions for Design-led industries and the retail sector. Areas of expertise include:

Product Development & Design Branding Solutions

Retail Consultancy Training & Mentoring Programmes

Project Management

The Studio undertakes numerous marketplace trips, researching trends and changing and emerging market conditions. This ensures that the Studio knowledge is ‘up to the minute’ with International directions.

Click to download booking form

All new 2007 Autumn training courses and workshops will be updated on this page once they are available.