News from the sector

GAS@Ausglass: Matters of Substance
Words from the conference Co-Chairs, "The Australian glass community is delighted to welcome you to Adelaide in 2005. We are building a conference that we know will give you a great taste of our region and be fascinating, enlightening, and professionally rewarding." The conference website is the place to visit for up-to-date program information and online registration. Join in the excitement!

Arts NT meeting - changes at the Australia Council
Arts NT is holding a Territory-wide meeting with key arts organisations on Wednesday, 9th February 2005, at 2.00pm to discuss the impact of the change to the Australia Council in regard to arts organisations, artsworkers, artists and stakeholders in the Northern Territory. The purpose of the meeting is to ensure that Arts NT is aware of and represents all issues and concerns relating to support for arts development and practices in the Territory, and that the sector has access to current information regarding these significant changes.

Australia Council - Craft Ink
The VACB of the Australia Council, through Object, have commissioned the following 4 articles on contemporary craft.
»  Talent is not enough   Author: Michael Bogle
Respected Australian design historian Michael Bogle offers a broad analysis that traces 40 years of vibrant activity and education, highlights three exceptional designers, and suggests a strong future for design in this country.
»  Handmade at the heart of things   Author: Grace Cochrane
Within a framework of international tendencies, Grace Cochrane offers an in-depth perspective on the complexities and, at times, contentious shifts in the Australian craft-scape over the past four decades, most critically in the migration from craft-art to craft-design.
»  Meeting the outside eye: exhibitions, dialogues and training in Australia   Author: Robert Bell
Robert Bell gives a history of craft practise and design within Australia. Bell traces some of the history of global exchange and considers the impact of particular exhibitions and individuals on the local scene.
»  The lucky country - beyond default   Setting the cultural nomad   Author: Simon Horauf, Martin Komberger and Johannes Weissenbaeck
As innovative design-thinkers and recent arrivals from Europe, Simon Horauf, Martin Kornberger and Johannes Weissenbaeck take a playful look at the nature of cultural exchange and influence in Australia now.

The South Project update - upcoming events
»   Melbourne Forum: Southern Futures (working title)   Tuesday 8 March 2005
»   First residency laureate awarded to Brazilian artist Laura Vinci   April - May 2005
»   Aotearoa – Wellington Gathering   October 2005
»   Ubuntu - Commonwealth Games March 2006   As part of the cultural program for the Commonwealth Games, The South Project/Craft Victoria is organising an exhibition of makers from participating countries. The exhibition will include makers who express where they come from by drawing directly on available materials, both natural and manmade.

FORM: Contemporary Craft and Design launches ...
FORM: Contemporary Craft and Design launches the Creative Capital series. Richard Florida presents his ideas from The Rise of the Creative Class and canvassing issues in more recent research which examines the global competition for creative talent. Download booking information as or visit FORM website

Handbuilding Masterclass with Hiroe Swen 19 - 21 March
A three day course for experienced potters. This is a unique opportunity to work one-on-one with a world renowned master in her field. For workshop details visit Canberra Potters Society website. Artists profile Hiroe Swen

Community Cultural Development Applications for mid-2005 intake close 6 April 2005
In July 2005 Australia's first postgraduate courses in Community Cultural Development (CCD) will commence at the Victorian College of the Arts, The Centre for Ideas. Email Christine Holmes

Measuring the quality and impact of research
University researchers from across Australia are to be asked to help in a new national study to identify the best and most productive research in the humanities, arts and social sciences. The study is being conducted by CHASS (the Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences), and funded by the Department of Education, Science and Training. Visit the CHASS website for full media release.

NCECA - 39th Annual Conference 16 - 19 March
The National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) is holding its 39th Annual Conference, Centering : Community Clay and Culture at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore. Visit the NCECA website for full program of events

Country Arts SA   21 - 23 October
Country Arts SA will stage its fourth South Australian arts conference at a series of venues across the Riverland. Email Alex Reid for details.

Congratulations
Textile artist Jennifer Robertson was awarded the Arts ACT 2005 Fellowship. She will use the Fellowship to create a new body of work and develop a range of prototypes which draw on historical weaving techniques. Leslie Mathews received a Visual Arts and Craft Fund grant to present an exhibition of the Gray Street Workshop. The exhibition will be held in Amsterdam at Galerie Ra, one of the most prestigious jewellery galleries in the world. Senior artist and Indigenous leader, John Bulunbulun, has won the Australia Council's prestigious Red Ochre Award for his outstanding lifelong contribution to Aboriginal culture, community and arts. Jonathan muller, Eddie Goh and Christian Condo received an 'Honourable Mention' in the designboom Kitchen in the heart of the home design competition. 2980 designers from 102 countries submitted work.

Articles

• The Australian   Board changes irk artists   Mathew Westwood
• The Australian   ATO rules on business and pleasure   Mathew Westwood
• Artshub Australia   Australia Council unplugged   Keith Gallasch
• The Advertiser   Staff in the dark on arts funding restructure &Nbsp; Louise Dunn
• Review about the role of universities   The Hon Dr Brendan Nelson MP
• Channel New Asia International  New Delhi's Art Triennale builds bridges between nations of the world   Vaibhav Varma
• Designboom   Body beautiful? Furniture design tattoo!
• State of the Arts   One exhibition to rule them all   Chloe Flynn

Craft Australia gratefully acknowledges the financial assistance it receives from the Australia Council for the Arts, the Australian government's arts funding and advisory body.