ADC event, 2019

Lisa Cahill reflects on an organisation in Sydney that has been showcasing Australian craft for 60 years.

Six decades of shining a spotlight and nurturing Australia’s craft practitioners is a major milestone worthy of a big celebration. Last year I started to think about how we might celebrate Australian Design Centre in 2024. Foremost in my mind was that we would not be here were it not for the many thousands of artists who have dedicated their lives to craft. Their stories and the results of their practice are what we celebrate.

One of the most acclaimed projects we have produced here at Australian Design Centre was the Living Treasures: Masters of Australian Craft series that began in 2004. This series celebrates the work and practice of exceptional individuals who have demonstrated more than three decades of excellence in their chosen discipline.

For the 60th anniversary, I invited the ten esteemed artists who were part of this series to exhibit a work of their own and to nominate an artist in their field who they admire. I was delighted when they immediately said yes.

This became Treasures an exhibition of 20 exceptional works. With work by Robert Baines, (the late) Les Blakebrough AM, Helen Britton, Lola Greeno, Marian Hosking, Jeffery Mincham AM, (the late) Klaus Moje, Nick Mount, Prue Venables and Liz Williamson presented alongside ten more artists nominated by them including Kirsten Coelho, Laura Deakin, David Doyle, Blake Griffiths, Jeanette James, Lauren Joffe, Kerryn Levy, Lily Morin, Beth Sanderson and Kenji Uranishi. Together these twenty artists are testament to the incredible skill, talent and artistry of material craft practice in ceramics, glass, textiles, metal and contemporary jewellery that we are privileged to work with every day and have done as an organisation for sixty years.

Every day this year presents an opportunity to listen to makers telling stories about craft, showcase their work across all the platforms we have, and take what we learn from the artists themselves to give them and guide them to the practical things they need – income, studio space, exhibition space, materials, connections, audience – and the appreciation they deserve.

Later this year we open entries in the 2025 MAKE Award: Biennial Prize for Innovation in Australian Craft and Design. This award is our way of saying that craft deserves its place on the national stage with an award that has a significant cash prize and an exhibition of the finalists that tour to three states through ADC On Tour.

Touring nationally is part of our DNA. We will continue to take craft practice across the country and in 2025 internationally. In Sydney, we shine a spotlight annually on craft through the Sydney Craft Week Festival and all year through exhibitions and events.

Australian Design Centre is an independent not-for-profit organisation with a small team led by the CEO and Artistic Director and a governance Board. The team is bolstered by guest curators, writers, installers and other contract staff as projects demand and budget allows. Board Directors are appointed in accordance with the organisation’s Constitution and are selected by a Board nominations committee as vacancies arise. Board Directors typically have an interest in the craft and design sector, high level skills and experience in financial management, legal expertise and fundraising. There is one directorship allocated to a craft practitioner and one to a designer.

Many people have made some generous observations about ADC and what we contribute. Here are a couple:

“I value the ADC’s broad scope of craft/design practice and how it supports a diversity of approaches. I think this points to an organisation that is open and willing to explore current/relevant contexts, ideas, and perspectives.”

“ADC is renowned for its dedication to showcasing and promoting Australian design talent across various disciplines, ranging from architecture and industrial design to fashion and craft. What I value most about the ADC is its commitment to fostering innovation and creativity within the Australian design community, as well as its efforts to raise awareness and appreciation for Australian design both domestically and internationally.”

I’m proud of our achievements and excited to be part of a seventh decade inspired by the makers, the designers, the artists, the craftspeople and the audiences who experience the awe-inspiring work and the joy that comes from learning craft skills.

Australian Design Centre (2015-present) was previously Object: Australian Design Centre (1970-2015) and originally NSW Crafts Council (1964-1970). 

About Lisa Cahill

Lisa Cahill is the CEO and Artistic Director of the Australian Design Centre. In this role since 2015 she has produced nine annual creative programs with more than 150 exhibitions. Lisa is also the Festival Director of the annual Sydney Craft Week Festival now in its eighth year. Visit Australiandesigncentre.com

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G36 | Sydney