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Eight year
long effort came to
fruition this week.
Deputy Enterprise Minister and local MSP Allan Wilson
praised the dedication and commitment of all those locally who worked to
make the craft town a success.
An eight year long effort
to secure national recognition for West Kilbride as Scotland’s ‘craft town’
came to fruition this week when Tourism Minister Patricia Ferguson
officially designated it , following accreditation being given by
Visitscotland, with the installation of brown tourism signs.
Launched by the West Kilbride Community Initiative Ltd (WKCIL) in 1998 and
with the support of Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire and The Moffat Trust, the
Craft Town Project acts as a showcase for designer-makers based in West
Kilbride with the associate crafter section highlighting the work of
designer-makers who do not operate directly from studios in West Kilbride
but who support the project.
Deputy Enterprise Minister and local MSP Allan Wilson praised the dedication
and commitment of all those locally who worked to make the craft town a
success.
“Particular thanks are due to local businessman Jamie Moffat and the Moffat
Trust who funded the first two studios when such capital was hard to come by
and major efforts were being made to secure financial support for the
project”
“Those efforts were led by local councillor Liz McLardy who together with
the other members of the West Kilbride Community Initiative have been
unstinting in their commitment to the project over the years and have helped
transform the town”
“I well remember welcoming Councillor Mclardy, Ashley Pringle, Dale Hughes
and other community activists to the Parliament six years ago when their
plans were in their infancy and I sponsored a members motion to win wider
support for their unique ‘craft town’ proposal . I was convinced then that
they had a winning concept and their progress in the interim has been
exceptional.”
“Much credit is also due to Evelyn McCann and Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire
who realised the economic potential of the craft town and have worked in
partnership with the community to purchase and refurbish three studios in
the town centre” said Mr Wilson.
Each studio provides a shop front/exhibition area and workshop area. The
studios offer high quality facilities to contemporary designer-makers and
present an opportunity for the public to see work to see work of a regional,
national and international significance, focussed within one area.
Tourism Minister Patricia Ferguson praised the quality of crafts on display,
“The professional designer-makers operating from West Kilbride create a
diverse range of carefully considered, beautifully crafted objects, and
undertake commissions and exhibit nationally and internationally.”
“The Gallery acts as a focus for the Craft and Design Town and aims to
highlight the wide range of quality craft and design produced by
contemporary and traditional designer makers” said Ms Ferguson.
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