Cultural Capital: Tapping into local identity for global appeal

This presentation will explore four projects that focus on the cultural aspects of craft practices. The examples will be drawn from the diverse and multifaceted career of Róisín de Buitléar, whose journey began as a craft practitioner. Through these case studies, the talk will examine heritage crafts such as lacemaking, weaving, and glassmaking as vehicles for artistic exploration and income generation. The discussion will highlight the various opportunities that emerged from these practices, including recorded works, live performances, national and international exhibitions, public art projects, and community engagement. Each of these outcomes has been deeply rooted in cultural resources, demonstrating the value of heritage in contemporary craft.

By drawing on these experiences, the presentation will illustrate how cultural identity and diversity can inspire new ideas, foster collaborations, and create fresh career opportunities. It will emphasise how an understanding of heritage can enhance creative practices, leading to expanded networks and sustainable professional growth.

This session will be particularly relevant for craft practitioners, artists, and cultural professionals looking to explore heritage-based storytelling and develop new avenues for their work.

This talk is part funded by Craft Work 4.0 supported by Creative Europe.

Craftwork 4.0 All is defined as a platform of international and intercultural co-creation, created among 12 organizations from 12 countries, and aiming at supporting emerging craft artists and practitioners to co-create, cooperate and promote their work, developing a common European programming of non-national craft artists and of trainings.

Róisín de Buitléar

Róisín de Buitléar is a multifaceted artist, educator, and curator whose creative vision is deeply rooted in her cultural heritage. Her artworks are held in public collections across the globe, including prestigious institutions in Ireland, Britain, Japan, France, China, and the USA. including site-specific installations in public buildings in Ireland, including the National Children’s Hospital, National Botanical Gardens, W5 science museum Belfast, the Basilica of Knock Mayo and Áras an Uachtaráin Dublin. Róisín’s recent focus explores the interplay of sound and light in both exhibition and performance settings. Her collaborative work with contemporary musicians has been shown at Kilkenny Arts Festival, Solstice Gallery, and Culture Ireland at Waterford cathedral. Exploring the ephemerality and exclusivity of shared live experiences, she looks to echo cultural gatherings such as traditional music sessions or seasonal gatherings of natural phenomena. CAUTION! Fragile Tradition in Transition a seminal exhibition focussing on traditions of cutting and engraving glass was shown at yearlong exhibitions at Museum of Glass Tacoma Washington and then at the National Museum of Ireland. In 2024, her artwork took her to Spain, Slovenia, and France and China, where she was selected to show her evocative glasswork. Notable accolades punctuate her long career, including being the inaugural artist-in-residence at the National Museum of Ireland from January 2018 to January 2019. In 2022, she earned the prestigious Bonham’s Special Mention prize at the Venice Glass Week. Currently, Róisín serves as the artist-in-residence for the climate action project Dinnseanchas, demonstrating her ongoing commitment to using art as a catalyst for social and environmental change