The Kite Design
Studio, a pilot project spearheaded by Waterford City Council and Waterford
City Enterprise Board is, this month, celebrating two enterprising years in
business in the heart of Waterford’s
Viking Triangle.
Situated in a
state of the art facility in Henrietta
Street this unique design collective houses some
of Waterford’s
most talented designers and artists including glass blowers, crystal engraver, a
goldsmith and several start up design enterprises.
The project
initiated by Waterford City Manager, Michael Walsh and former Chief Executive
of Waterford City Enterprise Board Bill Rafter, back in 2009, took almost two
years to complete and was formulated to develop the Viking Triangle as a key
tourism area in the city and to showcase Waterford’s
long crystal making tradition.
Today the Kite
Design Studio is home to a host of craft and design micro enterprises including
Sean Egan
Artglass. Sean Egan, a Master Engraver with over 40
years experience, has built up a global reputation as a talented and creative
craftsman, whose work has been presented to celebrities and presidents.
In the world of
show biz, Sean was commissioned to create a piece honouring the Monty Python
member Graham Chapman who died in 1989.
In addition to this, one of the most renowned crystal pieces remembering
those who perished on September, 11th, 2001 was crafted by Sean and
presented to then US
Ambassador to Ireland Dan Rooney.
In 2013, Sean
had the great honour of designing and crafting the stunning crystal piece,
entitled the “Gathering Bowl”, which was presented to US President Barack Obama
by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD following the traditional St. Patrick’s Day
celebrations.
Sharing floor
space with Sean is The Irish Handmade Glass Company, which rose from the ashes of the closure of the
Waterford Crystal plant in 2009. The
founders Danny Murphy, Tony Hayes, Derek Smith and Richard Rowe established the
company in order to preserve Waterford’s
proud glassmaking tradition and have almost 150 years cumulative experience in
glass blowing and cutting.
Producing
100% mouth blown and hand cut coloured crystal the Irish Handmade Glass Company
has quickly become one of Ireland’s
leading crystal manufacturers.
One
of the newest tenants at the Kite Design Studio is Button and Co. The company,
established by Waterford goldsmith Elaine Sarah Comerford, creates
unique and innovative jewellery collections.
No
stranger to accolades, in
2009, Elaine Sarah was a contestant on RTE’s Dragons’ Den and was backed by
then Dragon, Niall O’ Farrell. She was
on the judge’s panel for the Young Entrepreneur Awards in Kerry, guest speaker at Dublin’s Rotary Club as
part of their International Women’s Day Celebrations and Button and Co. has won
several industry awards including Best Product and Editor’s Choice at the
London International Jewellery Show.
Most
recently Waterford City Enterprise Board and Waterford Adult
Education Centre (WAEC) launched “First Flight”,
an enterprise programme which assists small craft start-ups. First Flight is working with a group of craft
and fashion design students, providing them with workspace, mentoring
assistance and practical business advice.
The three
businesses currently undertaking the First Flight Programme are Andrew Phelan
of Crea Jewellery
Design, Lucia Domoradova
of Lutsia
Fashions and Lenka
Jindrichova of Blossom
Jewellery Design.
According to Mr.
Ciaran Cullen, CEO, Waterford City
Enterprise Board, the Kite Design Studio project has had two great years
assisting start – up craft enterprises.
“The premise of the Kite Design Studio is simply to encourage, harness, and
showcase the high calibre of creative talent in Waterford.”
“We are
delighted that the businesses within the Kite Studio have flourished and as we
see them more and more in an international platform it acts as a reminder of
the phenomenal artistic talent in Waterford.”
“Over the last
two years some of the start-ups which were housed at the Studio have moved on to
bigger premises. We are delighted to
have worked from the outset with such talent on their path to success; Bonzie Crotty, a vintage inspired designer, Stradbally Jewellery, which produces quality handmade silver
jewellery and fine art printer Anne McDonnell Murphy.”From jewellery makers to glass engravers and silversmiths to fashion designers, the Kite Design Studio is an enviable and ambitious design centre that showcases the imagination and talent that Waterford proudly possesses.
The design
studio is open to the public six days a week and visitors have the unique opportunity
to experience in-house designers working on their
designs in situ.
For more
information about the Kite Design Studio call along to the Henrietta Street
premises, call 051 858914, or check out Kite Design Studio on Facebook.
No comments:
Post a Comment