West Cork Crafts began as a pop up shop in 2011 as an experimental enterprise for the 2011 Christmas season. After a successful run, the core members at the time made the decision to open a permanent shop in March 2012, located in Townshend Street, Skibbereen. With a group of sixteen artists and crafters, the shop featured art, photography, textiles, woodwork, ceramics, jewellery, greetings cards, fashion, candles, wrought-iron work, handmade cosmetics and stained/fused glass.
In 2015, the group moved to a larger premises at the old Morris Gallery, next to the Uillinn Arts Centre. With a change of core management and an influx of new members, WCC evolved adding origami art, soap makers, paper craft, knitwear, puzzles, wooden gifts and textiles to its expanding list of creative crafts. We remained in operation here until the end of 2017 when major flood work operations in the town forced the shop to close after Christmas.
With no permanent premises immediately available, the co-operative looked for potential pop-up shop locations to no avail and the group faced the possibility of closing. Fortunately a shop premises became suddenly available in March 2018. Located in a highly visible position in the centre of town with a large bright shop interior, it presented a perfect space. With ten days to re-decorate, shop fit and stock the shop, thanks to the supreme efforts of a core group of members, West Cork Crafts re-opened in style on Easter Saturday 2018.
We are now proud to present thirty one individual artists and crafters; all based within County Cork. With a diverse range of beautiful products ranging from fine arts, textiles, homewares, jewellery, wood crafts, stained glass, candles, skin care, ceramics, metal art, children's craft, embroidered bags, painted glass and knitwear, our carefully curated collection epitomises the fresh, unique artisan quality that we have become renowned for.
We have a large workspace to the rear of the shop which facilitates the running of art and craft workshops, and we're hoping to be back up and running with those over the summer. Silk painting, needle felting and wool dyeing are just a small example of the workshops that have been hosted already; and all are open to both members and non-members alike. This is a project we are very excited about, as it inspires creativity within our local community, and encourage anyone who is interested in trying out a new creative idea to come along and have a go.
For upcoming workshops, please check out our Workshops page, or interested in hosting a workshop, call us on 083 895 4823
