Articles - 28 February 2007
Marching into Design
In this March issue of 716, Craft Australia launches the 2007 Year of Design. This initiative will be a feature of 716, Craft Australia's online news, with up to date information on the latest programs occurring around the country. The Year of Design will present activities under the broad banner of design that have an impact on craft·design practice.
Year of Design focuses attention on the growing links between craft and design and to the changing trends in craft practice reflected by the sector. The effects of globalisation have had a major impact on the way makers deal with design, manufacture and distribution of their work. These changes in approach are presented in detail in current exhibitions such as Freestyle and Smartworks. Issues presented in these exhibitions have been the focus of key sector organisations for a number of years, such as Form: Contemporary Craft and Design Inc. in Western Australia with their influential Designing Futures program.
Year of Design will feature an online calendar, articles, reviews and relevant links giving an overview of these significant national projects. Exhibitions, events, trade fairs and special projects will be highlighted and the Year of Design will cover all areas of craft·design practice including fashion, jewellery, furniture, lighting, home wares and textiles. Year of Design is offered in addition to the features you have come to expect from the Craft Australia 716 online news.
If you have a special project for the Year of Design please send the details to Craft Australia.
Living Treasures - Klaus Moje: Glass
In addition to this initiative by Craft Australia, March will be a very busy month for the sector. The Klaus Moje: Glass Living Treasures exhibition, a partnership project by Object with Craft Australia, will open to Canberra audiences at the Canberra Museum and Gallery. This event will coincide with the stage one opening of the much anticipated Canberra Glassworks Centre that will have its main program launch in May of this year.
Museum of Arts and Design, New York
Attending the Moje opening will be international guests from the Museum of Arts and Design in New York (MAD) Director Holly Hotchner and Curator Daniel McFadden. Both are in Australia this month to view the Australian craft·design sector and meet people from the industry. Holly Hotchner will be meeting with the directors of the Australian Craft Design Centres (ACDC) in Hobart to discuss the new developments for MAD that will be opening in 2008 in a purpose designed facility that will more than triple its space. The increased space will also see an increase in the number of programs and educational services delivered by MAD that will include a focus on international touring exhibitions.
Hotchner and McFadded have been invited to Australia by Object to coincide with key programs happening in Australia this month. Their presence in this country emphasises the increasing interest in Australian craft·design practice by international gallerists and dealers. This has been in large part due to the concerted effort to present Australian work at international events through programs such as SOFA in the USA and Collect in the UK. The outcome of presenting Australian makers at these regular international exhibitions has had a very positive impact on the global perception of Australian craft·design practice.
Read about the SOFA experience on the Craft Australia website.
Smartworks: Design and the handmade
Also happening this month is the Smartworks symposium to coincide with the exhibition at the Powerhouse Museum. The General Manager, Catrina Vignando, will present a paper at the symposium on the creative industries and the role of Australian craft·design practice in this area of global change. Craft in the creative industries framework has been a major area of lobbying for Craft Australia that was identified as an outcome of the National Craft Mapping Project report.
International speakers will present views on global design and manufacture in relation to the handmade at the symposium, as will Craft Australia Board Director Gilbert Riedelbauch. Registrations for the symposium are still open.
Arts education
Craft Australia has set the lobbying wheels in motion in the areas of arts education. Education is shaping up to be a major election issue with the implementation of a national curriculum on the agenda for both the major parties. However, neither includes the arts as an area of focus in their restructured models. Craft Australia will work in collaboration with NAVA to draw greater attention to arts education in the tertiary, vocational education training and pre tertiary areas. The Craft Australia website will be the focus for a debate that will be the basis for a lobbying program to government. More details about the education debate will be seen in coming issues of 716.
Emeritus Award and Medal
Having marched through a small range of the activities that are on this month, I am finishing this column with my congratulations to Thanakupi Gloria Fletcher AO (Thancoupie), and Director of Asialink Arts Program, Alison Carroll, this year's recipients of the Australia Council Emeritus Award and Medal. More details are on the front page of the Craft Australia homepage.
Enjoy the month.
Catrina Vignando
General Manager
Craft Australia
28 February 2007
