Crafted Creatures: Families 2011 18 Feb - 9 Apr 2011
The Ark is preparing for an invasion of Crafted Creatures this spring, when every floor of our award-winning building will come to life with animal-themed Irish craft. Presented by The Ark in partnership with the Crafts Council of Ireland as part of Year of Craft 2011.
EXHIBITION
Children and families can explore a captivating world of crafted soft toys, pets, insects, underwater creatures and mythical beasts, while activity sheets help reveal the secrets used to bring materials like clay, wool and willow to life as wonderful pieces of art. The Crafted Creatures exhibition is curated by Brian Kennedy and features work by 28 contemporary craftspeople.
Exhibition public opening hours:
19 Feb - 27 Mar (weekends), 12-5pm
22-27 Feb (mid-term break), 12-5pm
17-20 March (St Patrick's Festival 2011), 12-5pm
CRAFT WORKSHOPS
Discover all the fun and creativity of contemporary craft in our unique series of workshops celebrating the Year of Craft 2011. Starting with a guided tour of the exhibition, children will work with two expert craftspeople to try out many exciting craft techniques. They will have a chance to explore weekly animal themes using materials like clay, wire, fabric, rubber and plastic, and all children will leave with their very own creative crafted creature.
The content and level of skill required for each workshop will be appropriate for your child's age group:
Toddlers† will be encouraged to choose from simple shapes, patterns, textures and materials in shorter sessions that focus on sensory discovery.
4 to 7 year olds will be guided to use observation and imagination to construct a creature using hands-on craft skills including clay coiling and inlay, weaving, textile work and wire sculpting.
8 to 12 year olds will be invited to try out more challenging craft techniques and can construct, sculpt, manipulate and create their creatures in a wide range of creative materials.
Tickets: €10/€8*
† Exhibition tour is not included for Toddler sessions. Accompanying adults do not require tickets for workshops
* Price for students, senior citizens, the unwaged, those parenting alone and their accompanying children.
Find: Crafted Creatures Trail
Track down captivating crafted creatures in our self-guided weekend family trail that leads you from the Crafted Creatures exhibition at The Ark in Dublin's Temple Bar to the National Museum of Ireland – Decorative Arts and History at Collins Barracks
The trail takes in The Ark, three clues between Eustace St and Grattan Bridge and then on to the Museum at Collins Barracks (you can take the Luas or walk, see luas.ie for service information.
You can pick up a free trail map in The Ark or in any of the Museum's Dublin sites, or download your trail map.
Complete the trail at the following times:
19 February – 27 March: Saturdays (12–5pm), Sundays (2–5pm)
22–25 February Mid-term break (12–5pm)
17–20 March St Patrick's Festival Thursday – Saturday (12-5pm), Sunday (2–5pm)
Find: Crafted Creatures is brought to you by The Ark, the National Museum of Ireland, the Crafts Council of Ireland and the Luas in celebration of Year of Craft 2011.
Meet stuffed animals
Sat 19 Feb, 2–3.30pm
Pop into The Ark between 2pm and 3.30pm to meet and handle some amazing stuffed animals from the Natural History Museum's collection. This opening weekend special event is kindly hosted by the National Museum of Ireland. Free entry on a first come first served basis.