Flowerfield starts to develop as a glass act

Flowerfield Arts Centre is entering an exciting new phase of its development, as the centre begins attracting attention for its excellence in glass crafts.

The centre has built a following in the last couple of years for hot glass work, thanks to a series of well-attended workshops and demonstrations by some of the most talented glass artists in the country, including Scott Benefield and Andrea Spencer, Karl Harron and Kyla Leeke.

Now the ongoing development of the facilities - and new partnerships - are combining to establish Flowerfield as a centre of excellence in hot crafts.

The centre is already host to talented ceramic artist Adam Frew, who is enjoying a two-year residency at Flowerfield as part of the Making It scheme initiated by Craft NI. And the centre has also made useful connections with the University of Ulster, the Crafts Council of Ireland and the Ulster Museum in its bid to develop as a regional centre of excellence in the development of ceramics and hot glass.

Key to that development is the provision of state-of-the-art facilities. While Flowerfield is already in a strong position thanks to the installation of excellent kilns, recent additions to the specifications allow for exciting new developments in Portstewart.

The centre has two studios available, each measuring a spacious six metres by five. They both feature 9" extractor fans, good natural light, telephone and broadband internet connection, sinks and ample cupboard storage space. There are plans to interlink the studios with an adjoining door. As well as being accessible from the centre, both of the studios also have their own access, separate from the main centre, 24 hours a day.

The technical equipment at the centre (usable for both hot glass and ceramics) includes:

Kilns:

• Rohde Fusing Kiln FE250, with Bentrup TC507 controller
• 2 x Rohde Ceramics Kiln 500 ltr, with Bentrup TC507 controller
• Rohde Raku Gas Kiln
• Rohde Ceramic Gas Kiln 500 ltr
• Protable test kiln

Glass equipment:

• 3 phase sintered diamond glass saw
• 3 phase glass bed polisher/grinder
• Single phase (slow speed) glass polisher
• Plans to introduce large LPG tank

If you'd like to know more about the facilities and the opportunities avaiable, get in touch with the Centre Manager Malcolm Murchison on (028) 7083 1400, or e-mail us at info@flowerfield.org.