Sixth craft show comes to Chch

Press, 6 October 1988, Page 24

Sixth craft show comes to Chch

The New Zealand Craft Show returns to Christchurch from October 7 — 9 for its sixth annual show in the city. This year sees a change of venue from Canterbury Court to Addington Raceway so that more craftspeople can take part. More than 80 exhibitors will be taking part. Since the craft shows began in 1983 more than 350,000 people have attended them. They have launched and expanded the careers of many craftspeople and generated S4M in spending. Each show offers the public the opportunity to view exhibitions and demonstrations of crafts-

people from all around the country. Everything is for sale. “People are drawn to our shows for all sorts of reasons — entertainment, colour and fun,” says Miss Fiona Dunkley, from the family business that organises the shows. “Others want to buy reasonably priced Christmas or birthday presents which are special, individual and New Zealandmade,” she says. For its 1988 season, the New Zealand Craft Show will present more than 100 craftspeople who will be exhibiting items from bone earrings inlaid with silver, Japanese style pottery, blacksmithing, bamboo furniture, marquetry and three dimensional decoupage pictures. The tradtional crafts of weaving, leatherware, woodturning, painting and pottery will be represented too. More than 30 Canterbury craftspeople will display their talents this year. “As our reputation grows, so does the number of local participants. We have some excellent craftspeople who reflect the special nature of the South island in their work,” she says. Because the New Zealand Craft Show provides

such a lucrative forum for marketing arts and crafts, huge numbers of people vie for exhibition space. There are always more applicants than there is space available, so the organisers can select only the very best work. Quality and variety are the trademarks of the shows. The shows were first inspired when Fiona Dunkley travelled to the United States. “I was impressed by the concept of their craft shows and came back wondering why, with all the talent in New Zealand, we could

not do the same here,” she says. On returning home she joined her brothers to produce the nation’s first and largest travelling craft show. The team divides their tasks. Miss Dunkley organises and promotes the shows Toby Dunkley is the computer “wizard” on accounting while Kim Dunkley is responsible for the graphic art and design work. The show will open at 10 a.m. each day and closing at 6 p.m. until Sunday, when it finally closes at 5 p.m.