Craft Australia news

1 May 2005

Craft Australia News is distributed free to subscribers every month. It presents information and news relating to the contemporary craft sector from a national perspective. Distribution within the sector is encouraged and new readers can subscribe for free on the Craft Australia website.
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Seeds of Light the Canberra look
Red Good Fortune 2004, blown and engraved glass, artist - Sunny Wang In the lead up to the GAS conference this month in Adelaide many glass events and exhibitions have been held around the country. In this issue of the Craft Australia newsletter we bring you one of the highlights of the program presented in the ACT, Seeds of Light, twenty years of graduates from the ANU School of Art Glass Workshop presented at the Australian National University School of Art Gallery. This exhibition is part of a larger program titled Cool Art Hot Glass that has included visiting international artists, curators and lecturers demonstrating their techniques, discussing glass and generally drawing our attention to the mercurial and seductive attributes of this medium. Watch the Craft Austrlia website for more articles on studio glass as our roving reporters at GAS in Adelaide bring you highlights from this event.

Dan Klein, founding director of Northlands Creative Glass introduces Seeds of Light .

News from Craft Australia

General Manager reports on export opportunities
On Friday 29 April I attended a seminar on export organised by Austrade. This was the Women in Export program which aims to 'ensure women in business are aware of, and have access to, the full range of Austrade's services to assist them in becoming successful and sustainable exporters'. While this focus was specific, the information presented is relevant to many who are looking at export as a viable aspect of their business growth. This program has been delivered all over Australia and if you couldn't make it in person you will find the links on Austrade's website particularly useful. The presentations 'Say G'day to the USA' by Kylie Hargreaves the Deputy Consul General and Senior Trade Commissioner for Los Angeles in the USA and 'Postcards from Seoul' by Elizabeth Masamune the Senior Trade Commissioner for Austrade in Seoul, Korea are available from the website. Both gave a very clear picture of the export potential in their countries which included a significant interest in art, craft and design. Resource material developed by Austrade that makes a valuable reference tool for you if you are interested in expanding into export is also available from the Austrade website.

Craft Australia is particularly interested in exploring the potential of export as a viable aspect of craft practice and has recently established the Craft Export Advisory Group (CEAG) to determine the export needs of the craft/design sector. CEAG is made up of national representatives in the fields of craft production, promotion, retail and marketing as well as Austrade and legal representatives. CEAG aims to inform the sector on the opportunities available in export as well as to lobby government on the export needs of the Australian craft industry. A regular update on export and the developments with CEAG will appear in the Craft Australia newsletter.

Catrina Vignando
General Manager, Craft Australia
May 2005

News from the sector

Victorian Indigenous art for World Expo 2005 in Japan
New art by ten leading Victorian Indigenous artists will be presented as part of a packed cultural program at the 2005 World Expo in Aichi, Japan. Read the media release on the Arts Victoria website

fuel4arts.com - professional development program Leading Voices
From April to November 2005 the Australia Council's Audience and Market Development Division will present Leading Voices across Australia. This program of workshops and presentations brings some of the very latest ideas and thinking about audience development and arts marketing to Australia's arts community in association with fuel4arts.com and the UK Arts Marketing Association. Bookings are essential: http://www.fuel4arts.com/leadingvoices

Frank Bauer - Art Gallery of South Australia recent acquisition
Lichtbild #016 or 'light-picture' is a recent example of the innovative work of South Australian, Frank Bauer, whose exploration into lighting had its genesis in the early 1990s. Gift of Michael Drew, Penelope Hackett-Jones, Anne Kidman, David McKee and Graham Prior through the Art Gallery Foundation Collectors' Club 2004. Article

Sydney Design 05
Presented by the Powerhouse Museum the Australian annual festival of design will return in 2005 with a new name, more days filled with inspriting events, and an expansion into the greater west. Sydney Design 05 will celebrate all facets of design through a feast of exhibitions, lectures. awards, master classes, workshops, tours and more at locations across Sydney. A 24-page program for Sydney Design 05 will be released in July. Watch for it at www.sydneydesign.com.au

(get with)The Program ACT
Canberra Contemporary Art Space and Craft ACT present a series of information sessions called (get with) The Program for members of both organisations. These sessions will deal with professional practice topics such as writing grant and exhibition proposals, opportunities for exhibiting work in galleries and other venues, media liaison, and other useful ‘nuts and bolts’ issues. Email Craft ACT for program details

Life After Uni Seminars Queensland
Artworkers and QUT Art Museum are running a seminar series for artists to make the transition into "the real world" a little bit easier. The seminars are open to anyone who's looking to establish a professional art practice, and needs to learn the essentials of running a small business. The seminars will will address workplace health and safety, grants and funding, and tax and book keeping. Email Artworkers for program details

Arts Business Basics Workshop Victoria
Baw Baw Shire Council is offering a two day NAVA Arts Business Basics Workshop over the weekend of 14 and 15 May. Topics will include sole trading, funding, tax, negotiating, publicly funded galleries and awards and prizes. For more information telephone Michael Henson 03 5624 2407.

Articles

The Age Disquiet over Australia Council changes Robin Usher
Online Opinion Tertiary Education: A revolution to what end? Simon Marginson
The Guardian Resale royalties for painters and sculptors Maev Kennedy
Artshub Adelaide glass artist carves Malone on mantle
The Age Exhibition trek a confidence trick Jenny Brown
The Australian Cringe whinge? Rosemary Neill

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.