As the Irish partner, DCCI will host partners and their stakeholders for a 2 day event in Ireland on the 3rd and 4th of March 2022. 

On day 1, ⁠Thursday March 3rd, the partners will travel to Design+ Technology Gateways at the Institute of Carlow for a study visit.  Design+ are DCCI's supporting agency on the CRAFTS CODE project. The group will be greeted by Declan Doyle, Vice President for Development and Research at IT Carlow; Design Strategist Lynne Whelan and Maria Couchman - Senior Market Advisor at DCCI. This study visit will give the group the opportunity to meet the renowned design strategists at Design+, tour the design rooms, have a walk-through of the 3D printing rooms and attend Lynne's talk on what the Design+ team can do to help businesses introduce growth and innovation.⁠

On day 2, Friday March 4th, the CRAFTS CODE partners and stakeholders will meet at EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum in Dublin for a Peer Review Event. This private all-day hybrid event will give the group the opportunity to discuss the different challenges they are encountering in developing their action plans. The main piece of the CRAFTS CODE project is producing an action plan for one small action that would ‘improve’ the policy instrument each partner region is linked to. The action plan is the result of learning about all the different good practices the partners have heard about so far. Expert speakers will present on the different topics partners have identified as the main challenge areas:

- 'Digitalisation & the Crafts sector' presented by Alessandro Monti, Foundation for Research and Innovation of the University of Florence, Italy 

- 'Call4Crafts' Pilot Action presented by Elena Nanni, Murate Idea Park, Italy

- 'Innovation & the Crafts sector' presented by Lynne Whelan, Design+ Technology Gateways, Ireland 

- 'Tourism & the Crafts Sector' presented by Laura González-Dopeso, Axencia Turismo de Galicia, Spain 

Agenda:⁠

DAY 1: Thursday 03 March 2022 - Site Visit to Design+ Technology Gateways, Institute of Technology Carlow

1.30pm: Group meets in the carpark of Hilton Garden Inn Hotel, Dublin (link here) and will depart via bus for Design+ Technology Gateways, IT Carlow

3.15pm: Arrive in Carlow

3.30pm: Photographs of CRAFTS CODE group with Design+ team

3.45pm: Tour by Design+ Manager, Richard Whyte and Design Strategist, Lynne Whelan of Design+ Studios (Tea/coffee provided)

4.30pm: Depart Carlow

6.15pm: Arrive in Dublin

8.00pm: Partner Dinner at the Winding Stair

DAY 2: Friday 04 March 2022 - Peer Review Event at the EPIC Museum, Dublin

9.00am: Partners and stakeholders arrive at venue. Group will be photographed. (Tea/coffee provided)

9.30am: Welcome from the host, Design and Crafts Council Ireland

Introductions from lead partner, Municipality of Florence, Italy and advisory partner Artesis Plantijn Hogeschool Antwerpen, Belgium

10.00am: 'Digitalisation & the Crafts sector' presented by Alessandro Monti, Foundation for Research and Innovation of the University of Florence, Italy

10.30am: 'Call4Crafts' Pilot Action presented by Elena Nanni, Murate Idea Park, Italy

10.45am: 'Innovation & the Crafts sector' presented by Lynne Whelan, Design+ Technology Gateways, Ireland 11.15am: Break (refreshments provided)

11.30am: 'Tourism & the Crafts Sector' presented by Laura González-Dopeso, Axencia Turismo de Galicia, Spain 12:00am: Final comments and conclusion of Peer Review

12.30pm: Lunch (provided)

1.00pm: Partners and stakeholders networking

2.00pm: Event concludes