If you’re interested in arts and crafts, then Yn Chruinnaght inter-Celtic festival (Peel, 16-20 July) has some special events for you! This year, they will welcome Scottish textile artist Ruth Black to the Island. Ruth runs a family business called ‘Anna Macneil’ with her mother and daughter near Inverness, where they specialise in Celtic embroidery, Pictish art, Harris tweeds and tartans.
During her visit, Ruth will lead two Celtic knotwork embroidery workshops as part of the Yn Chruinnaght programme. Participants can choose to either attend on Saturday 19 July from 11am-1pm in the Corrin Hall, Peel; or Sun 20 July from 12-2pm in the House of Manannan, Peel. The workshops are suitable for adults and children over the age of 10, and Ruth will teach students how to depict Celtic knotwork designs through the medium of simple, hand-stitched embroidery. All materials and equipment will be provided, but it would be helpful if students could bring a small pair of embroidery scissors.
Places are limited, so advance booking and payment is essential - ?15 per person (or ?10 for under 18s). To secure a place on one of the workshops, phone 695787 or 425957, and then send a cheque made payable to ‘Yn Chruinnaght’ to Yn Chruinnaght, c/o The Stable Building, The University Centre, Old Castletown Road, Douglas, IM2 1QB.
Yn Chruinnaght is also returning to its roots for ‘Island of Culture’ by holding an Artisan Craft Fair in the Corrin Hall, Peel from 12-4pm on Saturday 19 July. As well as having Ruth Black’s hand-made goods for sale, there will be stalls from Annie Eastham, Bruno Cavellec, Colette Gamble, Graham Hall, In with the old, out with the new, Kate Jerry, Kathryn Mitchell Ceramics, Jo Three Legs Crafts, Leigh Rogerson Design (jewellery), Lovely Greens, Nicola Dixon, Sue Quilliam, plus Apple Orphanage and Yn Chruinnaght.
Ruth Black will also have some items on display at the ‘Celtic Style’ exhibition at the House of Manannan; an exhibition which celebrates the 150th anniversary of Manx artist Archibald Knox. Yn Chruinnaght has also acknowledged the importance of Knox’s work with an illustrated talk by Yvonne Cresswell from Manx National Heritage (on Tuesday 8th July at Ramsey Town Hall, 7.30pm, free) and the commission of a Knox-style logo by Nicola Dixon for the 2014 programme.
Find out more about the festival and see the full programme of events at: www.ynchruinnaght.com
Yn Chruinnaght is grateful for the support of Culture Vannin, the Isle of Man Arts Council, Manx Telecom and the Manx Lottery Trust.
