A festival of creativity for all returns to Trim this August
Meath Made CREATES, a festival of creativity, is returning to Trim this month with a fun-filled, weekend-long festival for young and old, celebrating all things creative.
CREATES, which is taking place in the Swift Cultural Centre, runs from 15th-17th August, featuring over 25 members taking part in 13 workshops, five demonstrations, an art exhibition and a craft fair, as Meath Made celebrates the wonderful palette of creative businesses that are found in the Boyne Valley.
The festival is part of a wider programme to celebrate August Craft Month with the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland (DCCI).
Designed and organised by Meath Made, Meath’s creative collective representing over 38 designers, makers and crafters, this year’s event sees the CREATES festival expand to feature an exhibition showcasing work in paint, ceramics, textiles, mixed media and lots more.
The festival kicks off with an opening exhibition on Friday 15 August at 6pm, offering visitors a chance to meet, mix and mingle with the creative community whilst perusing the exhibition. All the pieces at the exhibition will be available for sale and guests can commission works from their favourite artists.
On Saturday 16 August,and Sunday 17 August, the CREATES festival will host a day long craft fair featuring over 23 crafters selling their products.
Thirteen creative workshops will run during the weekend in the Swift Cultural Centre. Visitors can participate in weaving, painting, drawing, felting, paint a piece of pottery, and lots more.
For younger children, there is a chance to participate in a children's woodland wonders workshop making a fun, creative piece with offcuts of wood, pinecones and seeds, as well as an enjoyable jewellery making workshop with local designer Síobhan Daly. Children of all ages can also paint their own pottery piece and add to their family’s tableware collection or gift to a special friend.
Older children and teenagers can join in too by learning a new skill like upcycling a garment with the Japanese art of repair, creating a small, lidded box in a ceramic workshop, or trying portraiture with paper and pencil.
Anita Reynolds, Chairperson of Meath Made and member of the organising committee of CREATES said "I am delighted to see CREATES return to Trim this year. Last year was the first year and we were blown away by the response from the public - the interest in workshops from both locals and visitors was amazing and shows here is a real hunger for experimental type events.”
Additional events include live harp playing on both days by Jennifer Leahy from Kells and the Beanery vintage coffee truck will be on site both days to serve delicious local cakes and hot and cold drinks.
Kieran Kehoe, Chief Executive of Meath County Council, said “Meath Made CREATES is all about opportunity, celebration and visibility. Showcasing the creative works of craft designer makers from all around County Meath in one unique setting during a festival of creativity right in the heart of Trim is a great addition to our already jam-packed tourism calendar of events on offer to both our domestic and international visitors."
Chief Executive Kehoe points out that a point of pride for all in the county is Meath’s reputation for creativity, with Brú na Bóinne home to the largest collection of megalithic artworks in Western Europe, as well as national treasures such as the Book of Kells and the Tara Brooch having strong creative connections to the Royal County.
For more information on Meath Made, click here.