Since it was founded in the early 1980s, Ruthin Craft Centre has established an impressive reputation as perhaps Britain’s foremost venue for the display and creation of contemporary craft. In 2005 its old premises were replaced with a purpose built building by architects Sergison Bates made possible by a major capital lottery grant from the Arts Council of Wales.
Inside are three galleries – two for displaying the best contemporary craft from Wales and around the world, the CELF gallery and a retail gallery space. There are also studios for artists, educational and residency facilities, a café and a tourist information cultural gateway. The whole complex is set round a courtyard that acts as a focal point and outdoor social space.
Ers ei sefydlu ar ddechrau'r 1980au, mae Canolfan Grefft Rhuthun wedi magu enw da fel o bosib y lleoliad mwyaf blaenllaw ym Mhrydain ar gyfer arddangos a chreu crefft gyfoes. Yn 2005 cafodd yr hen adeilad ei drawsnewid i adeilad pwrpasol gan y penseiri Sergison Bates, a wnaed yn bosibl gan grant loteri cyfalaf gan Gyngor Celfyddydau Cymru.
Y tu mewn mae tair oriel – dwy ar gyfer arddangos y crefft gyfoes orau o Gymru a ledled y byd, oriel CELF a gofod oriel manwerthu. Mae yna hefyd stiwdios ar gyfer artistiaid, cyfleusterau addysgol a phreswyl, caffi a phorth gwybodaeth ddiwylliannol i dwristiaid. Mae'r adeilad cyfan wedi'i leoli o amgylch cwrt sy'n gweithredu fel canolbwynt a gofod cymdeithasol awyr agored.
Get in touch via email ruthincraftcentre@dll.co.uk
Telephone 01824 704774
Website www.ruthincraftcentre.org.uk
Artists
- Claire Curneen : between my finger and my thumb
- Gallery 1
- 28 March – 28 June 2026
- Claire Curneen’s sculptures are poignant reflections on the nature of humanity and our precarious place within it. Universal themes of loss suffering and sacrifice underlie her intricate porcelain figures their translucent and fragile qualities offering potent metaphors through which to consider the human condition. Her ceramic figures have an imposing presence which tap into our desires fears and mysteries. They are highly visceral referencing Catholic imagery from the early Italian Renaissance.
- ‘Between my finger and my thumb’: the first line of Seamus Heaney’s poem Digging perhaps evokes the sensuous squeezing of clay in the artist’s hands but as Claire points out this is a nod to creative labour more broadly the idea taking form through physical effort. Claire pinches clay as Heaney digs with his ‘squat pen’ poetic labour connecting hand and head.