2022 Craft ACT's Annual Report

November 2022.
• Transforming Canberra
symposium, with keynote
speakers author Elizabeth
Farrelly, Shine Dome, 5
November 2022.
• Medium Density Housing
symposium, with keynote
author Tony Fry. Shine Dome, 13
November 2022.
The series of artist talks gave
audiences deeper insight into
the artwork on display during
the Festival including the Design
Revisited series featuring Marita
Leuver in conversation with
Graham Rendoth reflecting on
graphic design of the 1970’s, and
architect Roger Pegrum discussing
his legacy of achievements in
Canberra housing design with
Phillip Goad, Head of Architecture,
Royal Melbourne Institute of
Technology.
The tours of DESIGN Canberra
were very popular with attendees
exploring local homes with
extraordinary design and
features, commercial properties
re-imagined and new builds reenergising
the city, and discovery
of the art, design, and craft around
the city. The DISCOVER: Craft +
Design Trail public art tour hosted
by freelance curator Deborah
Clark featured the artwork of Fran
Romano, Hannah Quinlivan, Lan
Nguyen-hoan, Rosie Armstrong,
S.A. Adair, Sam Sheppard, and
Tony Burke. This professional
development program was
launched earlier in the year with
Craft ACT members selected
to create public art installations
with mentorship offered by
senior practitioners Nick Stranks
(Casting), Sam Tompkins (Digital
Fabrication), Valerie Kirk AM
(Textile) and Thor Diesendorf
(Wood).
For the second year running, the
Creative Journaling Challenge
(supported by Eckersley’s Art and
Craft) provided a daily prompt
word based on the theme of
transformation for participants to
respond to. These responses were
then shared online via Instagram
by the artists creating a dynamic
online community for the duration
of the Festival. The journal entries
were shortlisted, with the main
prize to be judged and awarded,
and an online exhibition of finalists
to be published in March 2023.
This year the challenge was
launched at a public program
with two Craft ACT members
demonstrating watercolour
sketching by Sally Black and
collage techniques by Dr. Llewellyn
McGarry. It was also supported by
two online Daily Creative Practice
workshops run by Craft ACT artist
members, Sally Black and Tom
Skeehan.
More than 45 open studios and
seven arts organisation open
days showcasing the work of
235 artists as part of the Festival
with Craft ACT artist members
and organisational members
welcoming the public into their
spaces. Through these visits,
attendees gained an insight
into the behind-the-scenes of
practitioners, purchased objects of
beautiful design and craftmanship,
and got to know the artists behind
the thriving craft and design scene
in Canberra. The open studios
program enjoyed over 5,000
attendees and raised $119,314
income for artists.
A highlight was our celebration
event for Craft ACT’s belated 50th
birthday which included the annual
Craft + Design Auction Party, with
food, drinks, music, and dancing.
As a part of the celebrations,
Geneviève Jacobs conducted
interviews with representatives
from the Craft ACT community
over the past 50 years—Craft
ACT practitioners, supporters,
and CEO’s past and present
such as Jodie Cunningham, Ian
Young, Tom Skeehan, Rachael
Coghlan, Avi Amesbury, and Holly
Komorowski, to discuss Craft
ACT’s significant contribution to
the craft and design in Australia
since 1970. The annual Craft +
Design Auction gave design-lovers
the opportunity to bid on pieces
of contemporary design work by
Craft ACT members. The auction
raised $5,269, with a portion of the
objects going under the hammer
in a live auction held at the closing
party and the remaining items sold
online. We thank Bianca Way and
Jenna Dunley, from our Platinum
Partner Home by Holly, for expertly
running the live auction and
encouraging spirited bidding.
Partnering with Molonglo, the Dairy
Road DESIGN Market was held
on 6 November and presented
a unique selection of stalls by
11 Craft ACT members in the
distinctive designed environment.
Complementing our members
wares were wine tastings by Cellar
Door, works from the Molonglo
Art and Object Collection, freshly
prepared food, live jazz, and allages
play activities by Green Hat
Workshop. With over 2,000 people
in attendance, it was a wonderful
day for our members to engage
with the wider community.
Furthermore, after a two-year
break, we welcomed the return of
the Undercurrent Design Market
with 21 of our members taking
part in the three-day event at the
National Portrait Gallery.
In 2022, we were excited to
partner with the Forage Street
Food Festival as part of our
audience development activities.
The Forage attracted over 2,000
visitors to Civic Square and the
Festival Hub. Many of these visitors
being family groups, who enjoyed
the sunshine, food, music, and the
many public artworks Civic Square.
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