Officially launched in September 2005, Design Island is a new triennial program aimed at raising the profile of Tasmania's design sector. Wearing an outfit created entirely by local designers, Arts Minister Lara Giddings introduced the initiative as an important stepping-stone for young designers to gain exposure and make contact with key industry figures. A defining feature of Design Island is a focus on partnerships and bridging the gap between making and selling work. "The new Design Island program will build and strengthen industry partnerships with the support of educators, arts organisations, the private sector and relevant government bodies", Ms. Giddings said.
» Review by Briony Downes
The works shown in the Common Goods exhibition are an array of traditional skills, contemporary narratives and strong references to history and cultural memories. Under the umbrella of the South Project, ten artists from nine Commonwealth countries were invited as representatives of a craft particular to their culture. In over one month, they created objects which were not only made especially for the Commonwealth Games but also of special relevance to their host residency.
» Review by Wulan Dirgantoro
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What do we mean when we talk about sustainability, innovation and knowledge transference in relation to Australian Craft practice? At Crafting the future, a public event organised by Craft Australia and hosted by Craft ACT on 4 May, the audience was presented with a rare glimpse of the possibilities for growth and future directions for Australian craft practice when Catrina Vignando, the General Manager of Craft Australia, addressed these very issues.
At this unique function designed to celebrate the achievements of the Australian craft·design sector Craft Australia launched the National Craft Mapping Project: Service provision for professional craft artists and designer/makers, a report on sustainability and skills development in the Australian craft·design industry.
The report addresses the fine balance between makers' needs and infrastructure support provided by service organisations to ensure growth in the industry.
The National Craft Mapping Project report identifies the needs of Australian makers, mapped across a professional career trajectory from emerging practice through to established and senior artists.
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Craft Australia held its Annual General Meeting on Friday 28 April. At the meeting the 2006 Board of Directors was elected. The current members of the Craft Australia board are Kay Lawrence, re elected as President, Lyn Valentine, re-elected as Treasurer and Robyn Daw, Geoffrey Edwards, Virginia Braden and Gilbert Riedelbauch continuing their term in office.
Appointed to the Board as the representative of the Australian Craft Design Organisations, (ACDO), is Steven Pozel, Director of Object.
Steven takes up the vacancy left by Christine Ballinger who will be leaving her position of Director at Craft Queensland to become the Director of the Noosa Regional Gallery.
The board acknowledges the commitment and hard work that Christine bought to the role and wish her well in her up coming position. Congratulations to the 2006 Craft Australia Board of Directors.
Congratulations to Vishna Collins who has been selected for the International Lace Bienniale in Sansepolcro for three consecutive years. The work submitted for the 2006 exhibition at the Palazzo Inghirami, Sansepolcro in Tuscany in September is a collection of crochet silverware jewellery.
Object has teamed up with Bombay Saphire to give further exposure to finalists in the annual Bombay Saphire Design Discovery Awards. Pieces selected from the portfolio's of the 2006 Bombay Saphire finalists will form a professional design exhibition to open at Object in Sydney in September. The exhibition will then travel to Melbourne during 2007. Entries for the 2006 Bombay Saphire closes 2 June.
The Australia Council for the Arts has announced it will invest more than $2.8 million in a seven three-year initiatives to increase the earnings of Australian dancers, writers, visual artists, musicians and Indigenous artists. The initiatives are a strategic response to research into Australian artists' low earned incomes by the Council.
The Maker to Manufacturer to Market initiative is to encourage entrepreneurship amongst craft and design artists and better convert their artistic ideas into successful commercial products.
Media release
2005 recipients
2006 now open
The National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA) has begun work on a new Indigenous Commercial Code of Conduct to provide industry endorsed best practice guidelines to set standards for previously unregulated commercial dealings between Indigenous artists and commercial interests.
The Australia Council for the Arts will spend an extra $3 million over the next three years on four new programs to support Indigenous arts across Australia and overseas.
In the media
Nicky Downer has been appointed the new Chair of the Australia Council Multicultural Advisory Committee (ACMAC). The Committee develops strategies for and monitors the implemention of the Australia Council's Arts in a Multicultural Australia (AMA) Policy and makes recommentations to the Council's governing body on issues that affect the full expression of cultural diversity in the arts.
Craft Australia is supported by the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy, an initiative of the Australian, State and Territory Governments.
Craft Australia is assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.
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