MEATH MADE – CREATES – A Festival of Creativity for all, returns to Trim this August

MEATH MADE – CREATES – A Festival of Creativity for all, returns to Trim this August.
Meath Made CREATES, a festival of creativity returns to Trim with a fun filled
weekend long festival for young and old, celebrating all things creative.
CREATES runs from August 16th-17th — featuring over 25 members taking part in
13 workshops, 5 demonstrations, an art exhibition and a craft fair — as Meath
Made celebrates the wonderful palette of creative businesses that are found right
here in the Boyne Valley. Meath Made CREATES festival which takes place in Swift
Cultural Centre, Trim is part of a wider programme to celebrate August Craft
Month with the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland ( DCCI).
The full schedule is now available to view and book at Swift Cultural Centre website
Designed and organised by Meath Made, Meath’s creative collective representing
over 38 designer, makers and crafters this year sees the CREATES festival expand
to feature an exhibition showcasing work in paint, ceramics, textiles, mixed media
and lots more. Meath Made CREATES kicks off with an opening exhibition on Friday
15 th at 6pm, this is in addition to a jam packed 2 day programme and this opening
night event offers 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 th and Sunday 17 th the CREATES festival will host a day long craft
fair, featuring over 23 crafters, selling their products. People are encouraged to
come in and browse the wonderful selection of products on offer and learn about
some of the unique pieces that are available from all corners of the county. The
craft fair runs from 10am to 5pm daily.
Meath Made are keen to welcome in the public, not only to encourage people to
think and shop locally but also to allow the public to connect with makers and have
a chance for these talented creatives to tell the story behind their craft business,
explain the creative process and help consumers understand the benefits of
sourcing locally made products. The craft fair affords people a chance to look,
touch and feel the products and understand the quality of skill that goes into
making each piece, all of which are unique and made to last.
13 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 as well as 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 a fun jewellery making workshop with local designer Síobhan
Daly. For another family creative experience children of all ages can 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 with the Japanese art of repair or creating a small lidded box in this fun
ceramic workshop or trying portraiture with paper and pencil
This year CREATES will again offer a huge variety of hands-on workshops which
signals a strong shift toward hands-on, participatory experiences that connect the
public directly with the makers and the making process. For visitors who wish to
watch, look and listen to the creatives there are 5 demonstrations taking place,
showcasing pottery throwing, crochet lace, weaving a sugán chair, traditional sign
writing and live portraiture with a sitter.
From traditional methods to modern experimentation, highlights include weaving
your own coaster on mini loom with Bréidín na Bóinne, Wet felting a bouquet of
flowers with Caoimhe Tuthill of Boann Irish Felt, Lampshade making with Wren
and Mabel Hand painting a sign with gold lettering with Megan McDermott to
creating Positivity pebbles with Rebecca Maguire.
One of the highlights of the weekend is the Meet the Makers Talk and this year
features, internationally acclaimed fashion designer and creative director of UPA
Kidswear – Vaida Raiscuite. Vaida is a long time Trim resident and will speak of her
creative journey, founding her UPA Kidswear brand and the years of creativity that
brought her idea to reality.
Anita Reynolds, Chairperson of Meath Made and member of the organising
committee of CREATES: "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.” Speaking from her
studio in Ballivor Anita goes on to say “Myself and the entire organising committee
of Meath Made are so proud to bring CREATES festival to Trim again this year and
engage directly with local people as well as meeting with international guests who
are enjoying a holiday in Meath;" Anita says “ there is so much to do for everyone,
whether you come by yourself or come with your family, the door is open to
everyone all weekend long and we look forward to seeing everyone at CREATES”
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, says: “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.

"Having festivals like this throughout the county encourage people to shop local and support
small businesses to grow in scale, which is something I am very keen to support."
CREATES Festival also offers our international visitors a very unique experience to meet
with makers, participate in very hands-on workshops, making memories of their time in
Meath as well as spending locally.”
Chief Executive Kehoe points out that a point of pride for all in county Meath, is its’
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.
He continues: “Meath has established itself as a creative centre so supporting our creative
maker community is something we continuously work on, alongside our team in the  Arts
Office, Economic Development team and Local Enterprise Office, Meath, who have a range
of business transformation programmes such as LEAN for Business, Digital for Business and
Green for Business for the creative community as well as mentoring and international trade
development supports.”
Meath Made is a membership association open to skilled craft workers in Meath,
supported by Local Enterprise Office Meath and the Economic Development team
at Meath County Council.  
For more information with www.meathmade.com book a Book a Workshop
or follow Meath Made on Instagram/ Facebook
Interviews Available on request
Caoimhe Delany, LEO Meath M: 087664447 Caoimhe.delany@meathcoco.ie
Anita Reynolds Chairperson Meath Made anitareynoldsart@gmail.com M: 086 3380155
August Craft Month is Ireland’s unique celebration of the craft sector, providing
opportunities for all to learn about, make, see, and buy. Organised by the Design Crafts
Council of Ireland www.augustcraftmonth.org

‍