Creative Peninsula – Northern Ireland’s premier celebration of Art and Craft will begin with a showcase of the boroughs most talented artists and makers at Creative Peninsula in the Square this Friday (2 August 2019).
For one day only Conway Square in Newtownards will be transformed into a creative hub with more than 30 artists and makers displaying and selling their work and talking about what inspires them. Free demonstrations including glass engraving, wood turning, painting, felting, printing, drawing, ceramics and much more will run throughout the day. So why not come along and join them in our celebration of creativity!
Taking place throughout August, the thriving celebration, which is now in its 18th year, offers a range of free and bookable opportunities for people of all ages and levels of experience to see, learn about and even ‘try their hand’ at some of the many art and craft forms that are practiced in the local area.
Other highlights include;
Alfresco Afternoons, Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 August, 12noon – 4pm (free) – be inspired with our Alfresco Art programme featuring afternoon demonstrations. The beautiful location of the Courtyard at North Down Museum is the backdrop for two afternoons of hand-crafted wood and art and craft demonstrations in many mediums.
Drink and Draw, Thursday 8 August, 7pm-9.30pm (£5) – true to its name, this is an art class for both seasoned scribblers and clueless beginners – but in an unconventional setting with a glass of your favourite tipple.
Ards Arts Centre Workshops, Saturday 3 – Saturday 10 August (cost varies) – a series of engaging and interactive workshops designed to explore the processes used to create unique pieces of arts and craft.
Mayor of Ards and North Down, Alderman Bill Keery, said:
“With one of the largest concentrations of artists and craftspeople living and working in Northern Ireland, Ards and North Down is home to a thriving creative industry. The Creative Peninsula gives visitors the unique opportunity to see some of the very best of local arts and crafts, and to meet and engage with the makers behind the pieces.”
The 2019 Creative Peninsula brochure is available to download at visitardsandnorthdown.com/creative-peninsula with tickets for bookable events also available from this website.
You can pick up a programme and find out more information on all the events on offer from Ards Arts Centre, North Down Museum or any of the local visitor information centres (Ards, Bangor, Groomsport and Portaferry) or contact the Council directly on 0300 013 3333.