Inspirational
Ever wondered how an object develops or why an artist chose a particular form, colour and material? The new permanent exhibition at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney Australia can answer your questions. Inspired! design across time explores the workings behind design. It recreates the passion of the makers, the relationship between designers, makers, industry and entrepreneurs, the transformation from inspiration to reality, and the meaning and value placed on objects by consumers who use and treasure them.
» Review by Diana Campbell
VACS Bulletin for Contemporary Craft + Design
The VACS Bulletins are occasional bulletins reporting significant outcomes in the contemporary craft and design sector made possible by the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy (VACS). The November 2005 issue highlights some of the programs initiated by JamFactory, Object and Design Centre - Tasmania.
In the media this month
- Memories in place: Art in high country huts
Ann McMahon. Craft Culture - The Art of Being Crafty
Jo Higgins. State of the Arts - Pump up the Jam
Alex McDonald. State of the Arts - Going with the glow
The Age - Curbs on ideas pose a threat
Matthew Westwood. The Australian - Stop laughing, this is seditious
Robert Nelson. The Age - Ministerial art prompts treason complaint
ABC News Online
Craft Australia's events calendars
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To advertise in 716 craft·design, please contact Avi Amesbury at Craft Australia on 02 6273 0088 or avi.amesbury@craftaustralia.com.au
Craft Australia goes surfing
The end of the year is here again and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you as readers and contributors to 716 craft·design for making it the vibrant online news that it has become. As we ride the crest of the wave of a dynamic year of 2005 activities, it is a good opportunity to look back on what has been achieved by Craft Australia in the past 12 months.
We started the year with the launch of the Interact publication, a hard copy of the online forum Interact Contemporary Craft in a digital future developed in 2004. The publication and teachers' notes are available on the Craft Australia website. Significantly, we finished the year with another major project, the launch of Craft Galleries Online. This is an online activity designed to attract new audiences to commercial and non commercial galleries dealing in Australian contemporary craft and design. The launch was held in Canberra to coincide with the opening of the Transformations exhibition at the National Gallery of Australia and was attended by many international guests who were visiting at the time including collectors from the Mint Museum of Craft and Design in USA.
As advocates for the sector, both these programs were very successful in raising the profile of Australian craft and design. The Craft Australia online news is a major vehicle for presenting the achievements of the sector to broad audiences. This year, in response to the demand for more stories and the increase in readership, the online news underwent a name change and is now in its fourth issue as 716 craft·design.
» General Manager's report
Craft Australia will be closed from 21 December until 9 January 2006.
On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff, Craft Australia wishes you all a festive season, restful holidays and a happy new year.
Advertisement
Never mind the quality, feel the width...
A report setting out a new way of assessing research in universities has been launched by the Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS).
Professor Malcolm Gillies, President of CHASS, said that the report sets out a fairer and more inclusive way to identify the most important and useful research in Australia. He said that researchers across the globe were slowly coming to terms with the fact that the old ways of measuring research were inadequate.
CHASS has devised and tested a unique approach, based on research quality, impact and capability. This is set out in the report Measures of Quality and Impact of Publiclyfunded Research in the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences.
Awards celebrate key figures in art landscape
Curator Robert Bell was honoured by the Australia Council for the Arts at a ceremony held in Melbourne. Robert Bell was awarded the $10,000 Visual Arts Emeritus Medal for his promotion of Australian craft and design through exhibitions, catalogues and education.
» Australia Council Media release
Grace Cochrane to take the helm of Object Magazine
Object welcomes Grace Cochrane to the helm of Object Magazine from August 2006. Former Senior Curator at the Powerhouse Museum and one of Australia's foremost curators and writers on contemporary craft and design, Object announces Grace will take Object Magazine to new heights.
Executive Director of PICA resigns
Sarah Miller has resigned as Executive Director of the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts. Sarah has been Executive Director of PICA for the past twelve years and has overseen its development into one of the country's most innovative, best known and most loved contemporary arts venues.
» Media release
Comments sought on the Federal Labor Arts Policy
Labor Arts Spokesman, Peter Garrett, has initiated a review of Federal Labor Arts Policy and is inviting comments, recommendations and suggestions. Send responses to Andrew Palfreyman.
» Labor Arts Policy
$28 million boost for the arts in regional Victoria
Artists and audiences in regional Victoria will benefit from a $28 million boost to arts infrastructure and programming as part of Moving Forward - the Bracks Government's $502 million action plan for growth in Provincial Victoria released this week.
Building Strong Arts Business-the NT Indigenous Arts Strategy
The Northern Territory’s Indigenous Arts Strategy, Building Strong Arts Business was launched three years ago, with a commitment to undertake a review to assess and evaluate the achievements and impact over the first three years. Arts NT has appointed Cathy Hunt, Director of Positive Solutions to undertake the review.
» Strategy 
ACT Arts Awards
Each year the Canberra Critics' Circle, a group made up from the ACT arts critics in the print and electronic media presents the ACT Arts Awards. This year congratulations go to Patsy Payne, Ian Jones, Moraig McKenna and Richard Whiteley and Ann Jakle and students and staff of the ANU Glass Workshop as recipients of the Visual Art Awards.
Realise Your Dream Awards
British Council Australia announces six creative and talented young Australians as receipients of the 2005 Realise your Dream Awards
Craft Australia is assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.
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