Craft ACTCraft ACT uses VACS funding for improved exposure to audiences, export and the marketplace
Deb Jones and Maureen Williams Geometry Rhythm Light: glass and the everyday
Craft ACT has a history spanning 30 years, inspiring artists and audiences alike with a sense of artistic confidence and regional pride. The ACT is one of Australia's leading centres for contemporary craft and design. It is home to approximately 2.4% of the Australian population, yet the number of nationally and internationally renowned craft artists practicing in the region far exceeds expectations for its size and spread of population. Craft and design from the ACT has become a major cultural identifier for the Canberra region, with many practitioners attracting national - and international - attention through exhibitions and sales. Craft ACT's VACS funding is channelled into its exhibition program to be responsive to an increasing volume of artists, new ideas, new technologies, new materials and new audiences distant from its inner city location. For instance, Earth Water Fire presented the diversity of ACT ceramic design and sculpture to the southern suburbs of Canberra at the Tuggeranong Arts Centre. The Raw Heat Hot Clay conference coordinated a total of 10 exhibitions stretching across the ACT region and into NSW. Craft ACT coordinated Hot Art Cool Glass in partnership with the ANU School of Art Glass Workshop to present a varied and high profile program of public events to focus on Canberra's unique reputation for studio glass. Targeted promotion for all these events resulted in large audience attendances and media coverage. "We met new audiences through these off site projects, inspiring them with high quality locally made contemporary craft and design" reports Barbara McConchie, executive director of Craft ACT. "We look for opportunities to challenge and stretch our artists and our audiences. These off site projects challenged artists to exhibit beyond known sites and it has resulted in very positive audience responses."
Product Launch: Elizabeth Kelly Zeus Platter, 2005
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Striking even further afield and with export as the aim, Craft ACT partnered with Object, Australian Centre for Craft + Design to take an exhibition to Hong Kong in late 2005. "Geometry Rhythm Light: glass and the everyday proved to be an exceptional exhibition for presenting contemporary Australian glass to an Asian market. "We built upon contacts in Hong Kong, and this exhibition was ideal for capitalising on those. The audience was fascinated with this daring work from Australia. We were delighted that the exhibition had been successful in Canberra and Sydney, but its financial and artistic success in Hong Kong motivates us to pursue ongoing cultural and market development there" enthuses Ms McConchie.
Product Launch: Anna Gianakis ag cafe range, 2005
Craft ACT also invests in the commercial sustainability of the artists it represents. In 2005 Craft ACT began a series of product launches to provide crucial support when a new product line is ready for strategic exposure to the marketplace, and to secure orders, commissions and introductions to commercial agents and retailers. Craft ACT partnered with Canberra Arts Marketing to stage an exclusive media and general audience launch of Zeus Platters by Canberra glass designer Elizabeth Kelly. In November, Anna Gianakis, launched her new handmade tableware, the ag café range. A partnership with national retail chain Essential Ingredient was negotiated, giving them immediate stock and exclusivity for the Christmas season. Craft ACT has since been approached by designers and businesses alike for future product launches. Ms McConchie is committed to nurturing these market oriented projects "to get the best commercial outcomes for our ACT makers and designers".
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Member organisation of Craft Organisation Australia are supported by the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy, an initiative of the Australian, State and Territory Governments