A local artist has launched his new Armagh-themed Christmas cards in a bid to raise money for Armagh Food Bank in the run up to the holidays.
Jonathan Hackett created the design out of a range of well-known sights and businesses in the city.
Having trained in art at Southern Regional College, Jonathan returned to the design world following a ten-year hiatus, telling Armagh I back in February that he wished to use his skills to give back to the community.
Now, that dream has become a reality as Jonathan hopes his design will raise some much-needed funds for Armagh Food Bank.
Inspired by the charity efforts of Armagh’s own Willie Nugent, Jonathan hopes that the Christmas card appeal will become an annual fundraiser.
He explained: “I always found it very inspiring to be able to take that passion and that skill and to turn it into something were you would be able to give back in so many ways.
“Everything I do is based on the history or the mythology or the landmarks of Armagh as I always knew that I wanted to give back to the city as it had given so much to me.
“It’s all made up of local businesses or locations such as the County Museum, the Irish Language Centre, Red Neds, Trim Print, Uluru, Hughes’ Bar, The Craic’d Pot and Flanagan’s.”
Jonathan continued: “I think now more than ever, with the cost of living the way it is, it is important to look on our own doorstep because there are people who are struggling.
“As a community, if people are able to come together and bring ideas forward to try and take that pressure off people and help them out when they’re in crisis, then the more people doing that sort of thing the better.”
Priced at £2.50 per card, if the whole run of 100 cards is sold, that’ll mean £250 in vital funds for the food bank.
The cards will be on sale throughout a number of stores in Armagh, as well as at the Love Local Craft Fair in Benburb Priory on December 9. Alternatively, you can reach out to Jonathan on social media.
Jonathan added: “I want to thank Jeremy from Trim Print, who has sponsored this completely. All of the printing costs, the paper, the ink, the envelopes have all been taken in by him. I want to make sure he gets a special thank you because he has definitely played a very big role in making it possible!”
If you wish to buy a card, you can reach out to Jonathan through Facebook or Instagram.
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