Celebrate August Craft Month with Art, Workshops and Creativity in Omagh

The Strule Arts Centre in Omagh and local artist Sharyn Kelly are among the venues and makers celebrating creativity throughout August Craft Month, a month-long showcase of craft, creativity and artistic talent.

The annual event is held each summer across the island of Ireland as a partnership between the Design & Crafts Council Ireland and Craft NI, which is now in its fifth year of promoting, growing and sharing audiences for craft makers.

From Donegal to Dublin and Tyrone to Tipperary, creativity is coming to every corner, and with 450 events taking place and around 2,500 makers involved, it is anticipated that this year’s programme will be the busiest yet.

In Omagh, the Strule Arts Centre is supporting this annual creative collaboration with local artist and arts tutor Sharyn Kelly holding her first solo exhibition, ‘My World in Wool’.

Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Debbie Coyle officially opened the exhibition and said: “August Craft Month is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate talented local artists and the inspiration they draw from our district.

“Sharyn Kelly’s work offers a unique insight into the stunning landscapes of our district, with added rural significance through her use of wool and fibre.

“It is great to have facilities like the Strule Arts Centre that showcase local creative talent and provide opportunities for people to engage with and be inspired by the arts. I would encourage everyone to visit this exhibition and enjoy this celebration of craft and creativity.”

Sharyn derives inspiration from local nature walks and the many scenic views throughout the district. Working in mixed media, mainly wool and brightly coloured fibres, she enjoys designing and printing organic images from lino and calligraphy plates.

Speaking about her craft, Sharyn said: “Wool is a naturally beautiful, versatile material, allowing me to creatively express our beautiful Tyrone landscapes. I love experimenting to create both 2D and 3D forms.”

The ‘My World in Wool’ exhibition opened at the Strule Arts Centre on Thursday, 30 July, and will run until 5pm on Saturday, 29 August. The exhibition is open daily from 9.30am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday, and admission is free.

Visitors inspired by Sharyn’s work can also take part in the ‘Wet Felting a Landscape or Floral Design’ workshop, which is taking place at 7pm on Thursday, 6 August, or the ‘Introduction to Using a Hoop for Wet Felting’ workshop at 10.30am on Monday, 10 August.

Workshops can be booked at http://bit.ly/4hoXXnq or by calling 028 8224 7831.

For more information on August Craft Month events across the island of Ireland, visit https://bit.ly/3Rtx4Er.