716: Issue 034. September 2008

Banner image: Cyril James Kerinauia, The Hunting Party with Dog, 2005. SOFA 2007

International Craft Initiative

The focus for this issue of 716 craft·design is the International Craft Intiative (ICI). The initiative, managed by the JamFactory in Adelaide, showcased the best of Australia's artists at the leading events of Collect and SOFA, while highlighting emerging practitioners in the juried event of Talente.

Here, the stories are told and successes championed. Mark Thomson takes us on a vivid journey to SOFA Chicago in the US, our source on Scottish soil, Amanda Game, proclaims international embrace for our 'creative buzz' and Diana Hare introduces us to the 'new generation' of Australian talent.

Until recently the ICI was supported by the Visual Arts Board of the Australia Council for the Arts. The General Manager brings to our attention the erosion of support for the export of Australian craft and design and asks that challenging question, 'where to now?"

Read the articles and have your say.
Your feedback and ideas on these issues are vital.

» International Craft Initiative JamFactory
» The shock of the huge by Mark Thomson
» International talent by Diana Hare
» Australian Craft - a personal view from the UK
by Amanda Game

Cobi Cockburn, Seeding Phalaris, Talente 2007

Above: Cobi Cockburn, Seeding Phalaris
Winner of the international Grand Talente prize in 2007.

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From the General Manager

Catrina Vignando
September, 2008

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Where to now?

Australia has had a strong tradition of international export assistance. Being an isolated continent with the world's key markets stretching way beyond both major oceans, export is a necessity.

Since 1991 the Australia Council for the Arts has supported an international craft export program. Initially this funding was devolved to Craft Australia who, from 1991 to 2002, represented over 14,000 Australian artists and their work at 43 major craft and design feature events in the United States of America, Singapore, Germany, Hong Kong, Korea and Japan.

Over these eleven years Craft Australia generated over 4 times the return on investment through direct sales of artworks to collectors, galleries and collecting institutions.

These figures do not take into account the secondary benefits of this support which continues beyond the exhibition event through the establishment of new contacts and networks.

This remarkable foray into the international art market was galvanised with the International Craft Initiative which has been operating since 2003.

This strategy was supported by the Visual Arts Board of the Australia Council and managed by the JamFactory in Adelaide through an exhibition program under the banner of Australian Contemporary. This program has now also come to an end.

The focus of this September issue of 716 craft·design is dedicated to the achievements of the International Craft Initiative and to the benefits this program has brought to the sector by enhancing international audiences for Australian contemporary craft and design.

With no substitute export program in sight from the Visual Arts Board; and a review of the current support program for Australian commercial galleries through the Community Partnerships and Market Development division of the Australia Council, we take this opportunity to reflect.

What have been the highlights of the international craft strategy of the past 5 years? How have Australian commercial galleries benefited from participation in these international events? What have been the personal success stories for the artists that have been involved?

I encourage you to read the specially commissioned articles by Amanda Game from Scotland, Mark Thomson, Wendy Walker and Diana Hare that give an overview of the stories and successes of the International Craft Initiative.

You are invited to give us your feedback on the current cut to support for international craft export.

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