The Gasyard Centre will become a catwalk for a special Fashion Show this weekend as part of the Legenderry August Craft Month which is currently taking place in conjunction with Derry City Council’s Craft Development Programme.
The year-long Craft Development Programme is part-funded by Invest Northern Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund under the Sustainable Competitiveness Programme for Northern Ireland.
The Craft Development Programme aims to encourage and facilitate the development and growth of the craft sector in the Derry City Council area.
The Gasyard Fashion Show, billed as “An Evening of Textile Deligh,” is also part of the Feile 2014 celebrations and will be held in the community marquee at the Gasyard Centre on Lecky Road, on Sunday from 6.00pm to 8.00pm.
Bluebell Arts Project will be celebrating the success of two of its projects which are funded by Arts Council NI.
A textiles fashion show will showcase work produced by the “Keep Her Knit” group, and glass button making workshops throughout the year.
In addition, a screen printed art quilt will be on exhibition as a fine example of the breadth of creative skills and techniques gained by local women as part of Bluebell Arts Project’s Craft Circle.
A lucky audience member will have the chance to win the quilt when it is raffled during the event.
Fiona McGonagle, Arts Development Officer at the Gasyard Development Trust, revealed that women from ‘Keep Her Knit’ will be modelling their own hand-crafted items, along with grandchildren and other family members.
Members of the project felt “a great sense of confidence and pride” showcasing their constructed textile work to the wider community, she explained.
The women from ‘Keep Her Knit’ developed sophisticated new skills at fused glass button making workshops which has enabled them to make their own buttons, brooches and clasps.
The Craft Circle also benefitted from a screen-printing and dyeing workshop which has enabled the women to design their own quilting fabrics.
Fiona McGonagle explained: “The quilt measures about 6ft x 5ft and is quite contemporary. It is functional but it really is like a piece of artwork; it could be put over a bed but I think it is too good and should be hung on the wall!”
The Bluebell Arts Project has 11 community arts projects planned next year to meet the needs of groups in the Triax area which comprises the Bogside, Brandywell, Creggan, Lower Bishop Street and Fountain.
Tickets for “An Evening of Textile Delight” are priced £2and are on sale at the Gasyard Centre or contact Fiona on 02871 262812, email: [email protected].
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