As part of Belfast City Council’s ongoing support and development of the Creative Industries, THIMBLE, a textile networking initiative has been established.

This initiative will group Belfast based textile companies together to work in the improvement and development of promotional material and market research to help their business develop and grow.

A predominant member of this group, Maria Cardenas has recently been invited to take part in the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show from November 4th – 7th 2004 at the Pennsylvania Convention Centre USA. Maria is a member of the Irish Linen Guild and has also been awarded the Masters of Linen Label.

This premier show will include 195 of the finest and most dynamic craft artists in the United States, selected from more than 1500 applicants and for the first time, 25 guest artists from Ireland will be featured including Maria Cardenas.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show is presented annually by The Women's Committee and Craft Show Committee for the benefit of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Funds raised are used to purchase works of art and craft for the permanent collections of the Museum, to fund conservation and publication projects and to support exhibitions and education programs. Proceeds have also endowed curatorships and have helped to make possible special undertakings such as the recently completed reinstallation of the Museum's European collections.

For further information: http://www.mariacardenas.com and http://www.pmacraftshow.org