2022 Craft ACT's Annual Report

objects can enhance our enjoyment of being home.
Supported by the Embassy of Italy, Italian Cultural Institute, and the Prosecco Consortium.
Exhibition launched by Elisabetta Pisu, Curator, EP Studio.
2022 Robert Foster F!NK National Metal Prize
Alison Jackson | Bic Tieu | Gretal Ferguson | Johannes Kuhnen | Jonathon Zalakos | Kirsten Haydon | Larah Nott |
Lindy McSwan | Oliver Smith | Sean Booth
Craft ACT was honoured to present the new Robert Foster F!NK National Metal Prize. This award celebrated the
outstanding work of ten emerging and established contemporary metalworkers, designers and craftspeople.
The finalists represented the value of high-quality craft making skills, sound design and innovation that we are
lucky to have here in Australia. From these ten finalists, judges Brian Parkes (JamFactory) Rohan Nichols (University
of Tasmania) and Ewan McGregor (National Gallery of Victoria) awarded both the main prize ($10,000) and
emerging award prize ($3,000) to Gretal Ferguson, and the acquisition prize ($2000) to Larah Nott.
This program is generously supported by the Tall Foundation, F!NK + Co., and Craft ACT: Craft + Design Centre.
Exhibition launched by Gretel Harrison, Director, F!NK + Co.
Public Programs
Craft ACT in-gallery public programs
• Emerging Contemporaries, 6:30 Sessions, and You Get a Rhythm about It exhibition opening, 3 February 2022.
• 6:30 Session floor talk with artists Nellie Peoples and Michelle Stemm, 5 February 2022.
• You Get a Rhythm about It floor talk with artist Peter Minson, 5 March 2022.
• Home Grown and Tension[s]: 2020 Tamworth Textiles Triennial exhibition opening, 24 March 2022.
• Home Grown floor talk with artist Jeremy Brown, 2 April 2022.
• Fire Country and Collide + Divide exhibition opening, 19 May 2022.
• Collide + Divide floor talk with CEO + Artistic Director Jodie Cunningham in conversation with artist Daria Fox and
Bailey Donovan, 21 May 2022.
• Fire Country floor talk with artist Rebecca Selleck, 18 June 2022.
• BEEing and CONFLUENCE exhibition opening, 7 July 2022.
• BEEing floor talk with artists Dr. Julie Bartholomew and Mahala Hill, 30 July 2022.
• CONFLUENCE floor talk with artists Valerie Kirk AM and Harriet Schwarzrock, 23 July 2022.
• Nurture: Craft ACT Annual Members Exhibition opening, 8 September 2022.
• 2022 Robert Foster F!NK National Metal Prize, Home Life and Seeing Seventies exhibition opening, 27 October
2022.
Craft ACT off-site public programs (not including DESIGN Canberra programming)
• Craft ACT at DENFAIR + Interiors Australia exhibition in Melbourne featuring members Maitlan Brown, Madeline
Cardone, Louis Grant, and Sam Sheppard, 10-12 February 2022.
• MAKE:OVER, styling master class presented by Lynsey Fryers—a professional development workshops for
members, 26 February 2022.
• Artists-in-Residence Bev Hogg, Julie Ryder, and Mel Robson completed their research with our 2022 research
partner the National Library of Australia and their residency at Gudgenby Ready-Cut Cottage with our program
partners ACT Parks and Conservation Service and the National Library of Australia, 7–18 March 2022 and 25
April-7 May 2022.
• Craft ACT at Enlighten in the City, Craft After Dark with clay-making family programs and pop-up retail stall, Civic
Square, 10 March 2022.
• Craft ACT at Winter in the City: Felt Caterpillar Beads and Found Treasure workshop in partnership with Canberra
Region Feltmakers, 9 + 16 July 2022.
• Indigenous Artists-in-Residence, Krystal Hurst and Jessika Spencer, conducted research at the National Library
of Australia, 22–26 August 2022.
• Indigenous Artist-in-Residence, Jessica Spencer, conducted residency at the Ready-Cut Cottage in Namadgi
National Park, 1-15 September 2022.
Craft ACT participation in external public programs
• Jodie Cunningham attended Museums and Wellbeing Digital next Conference online, 31 January-2 February
2022.
• Megan Jones attended DENFAIR + Interiors Australia exhibition to support Craft ACT Artists in Melbourne, 10-12
February 2022.
• Jodie Cunningham convened National Art, Craft and Design Network (ACDNN), Australian Museum and Galleries
Association (AMAGA) meetings, 17 February 2022 + 18 July 2022.
• Justine Merrony attended Melbourne Design Week, 17-24 March 2022.
• Jodie Cunningham, Frances Spurgin, Rachel Byron attended Fundamentals of Arts Fundraising Creative
Partnerships, 19 May 2022.
• Jodie Cunningham, Frances Spurgin attended Canberra Tourism Leaders Forum Conference, 6 June 2022.
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