Accredited Professional Member strategic planning day

When: March 2012 (date to be confirmed)

Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre values the input of our members and invites Accredited Professional Members to join us for a discussion during March (date to be confirmed) to develop our membership benefits and initiatives which will work alongside the Centre's strategic plan.

Centenary of Canberra - a legacy of good design
Winners announced Canberra Day, 12 March 2012

The Centenary of Canberra - a legacy of good design competition has seen craft practitioners and designer makers submit designs for unique, high quality objects, to be produced and sold nationally as memorabilia for the city's centenary in 2013.

We are nearing the end of the competition with the finalists and the 4 winners due to be announced on Canberra Day, 12 March 2012.

The winners will each be awarded $10,000 to produce the initial run of their product.

Centenary of Canberra - a legacy of good design is a Centenary of Canberra project, presented by the ACT Government, with support from Business and Industry Development and administered by Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre.

Keep an eye on our website for details of the winners and their products following the announcement.

» Read about the Centenary of Canberra - a legacy of good design competition.

Talking water: artists-in-residence - calling for expressions of interest
Applications close 5pm Friday 16 March 2012

Talking water: artists-in-residence is a series of residencies within Canberra's National Park and Nature Reserve, a public forum, an exhibition, and a catalogue drawing together the arts, heritage and the environment, which promotes and showcases Canberra's distinct natural and cultural landscape. The program is presented by Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre in partnership with the Rural District Parks, Conservation and Land and supported by ACTEW Corporation.

In 1908 the Yass-Canberra area was selected for the nation's capital as it best filled the requirements with regard to adequate water supply, climate and landform suitable for the building of a 'garden city'. Through discussion, engagement and interpretation, Talking water: artists-in-residence will draw attention to sustainability and Canberra's water catchment areas.

An exhibition featuring work inspired by the artist's time spent living in the National Park or Nature Reserve, and in response to the theme, Talking water, will be held in the Centre's gallery in March 2013, coinciding with the centenary of Canberra celebrations.

Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre is calling for expressions of interest from individual craft practitioners and designer makers, to undertake a residency as part of the Talking water: artists-in-residence project. Members, as well as local and national craft practitioners and designer makers are invited to apply. Three residency placements will be offered to Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre members. Group applications are not accepted.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply.

Four residencies, two in April and two in September, are being offered. Two residencies at each of the huts is available at Gudgenby Ready-Cut Cottage in the Namadgi National Park and Nil Desperandum Homestead in the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve.

The Centre will provide a stipend of $ 1,000.00 for each artist-in-residence. Artists are responsible for all costs associated with the residency including travel.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend the information day on Saturday 10 March, 2012. The information day is an opportunity for applicants to visit the residency sites, and to hear first hand from Park Rangers about the area and the guidelines for staying in the National Park or Nature Reserve.

Please register your interest with Amy Kerr, Communication and Event Manager to attend the information day:
02 6262 9333 or amy.kerr@craftact.org.au

Key Dates

The first two artist-in-residencies
For a period of 2 to 4 weeks, arranged in consultation with the Centre
Between 2 - 29 April 2012

1. Gudgenby Ready-Cut Cottage, Namadgi National Park
2. Nil Desperandum Homestead, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve

The second two artist-in-residencies
For a period of 2 to 4 weeks, arranged in consultation with the Centre
Between 3 - 30 September 2012

1. Gudgenby Ready-Cut Cottage, Namadgi National Park
2. Nil Desperandum Homestead, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve

Information day
Meeting point: Visitor Information Centre, Namadgi National Park, Naas Road via Tharwa ACT
Saturday 10 March 2012

Expressions of interest close 5pm Friday 16 March 2012
Selected artists will be notified on Friday 23 March 2012

» Download the Talking water: artists-in-residence guidelines   File size: 61 kB

» Download Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre membership forms   File size: 92 kB

» Download Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre membership benefit information   File size: 33 kB

For more information contact Amy Kerr, Communication and Event Manager, 02 6262 9333 or amy.kerr@craftact.org.au

Annual General Meeting announcement
Tuesday 27 March 2012

When: 6.00pm
Where: Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre

We notify you that Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre's 2012 Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Tuesday 27 March 2012 at 6.00pm at Level 1, North Building, 180 London Circuit, Canberra City.

At the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting, all members and friends are invited to stay for refreshments.

The agenda for the meeting includes the following items:

• Confirmation of the minutes of the preceding AGM
• Report from the President
• Report from the Executive Director on the Centre's activities during the preceding financial year
• Statement of accounts and Auditor's Report
• Election of members to the Management Committee for 2012

Only financial members may stand for Management Committee election or vote in the case of a ballot.

Email Avi Amesbury, Executive Director, avi.amesbury [at] craftact.org.au, or call 02 6262 9333 if you would like to enquire about nominations to the Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre Management Committee.

Exhibition opening
Thursday 5 April 2012

When: 6.00pm
Where: Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre

You and your guests are invited to join Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre for the official opening of Emerging Contemporaries, The Experience of Beauty - Brook Morgan and Elements: leather - Colin Lee and Judy Parker at 6.00pm Thursday 5 April 2012.

» See upcoming exhibitions for more information.

2012 Designing a Capital: Crafting a City

When: May 2012 (dates to be confirmed)

In the years leading up to the centenary of Canberra, Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre presents Designing a Capital: Crafting a City, an annual program of exhibitions and events designed to probe and explore the role of craft and design in crafting our nation's capital. The focus for the program in 2012 is Talking water: artists-in-residence and will deliver an artist-in-residence program and a public forum that promotes and showcases Canberra's distinct natural and cultural landscape.

In 1908 the Yass-Canberra area was selected for the nation's capital as it best filled the requirements with regard to adequate water supply, climate and landform suitable for the building of a 'garden city'. Artists in residence at Gudgenby Ready-Cut Cottage and Bendora Dam Hut in Namadgi National Park, and at Nil Desperandum Homestead in the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve will respond to the theme Talking water to amplify Canberra’s unique natural and cultural environment and the significant value of these historic cottages to the Canberra community.

Stay tuned for the upcoming call for expressions of interest for the artist-in-residence placements.

The Art of Poetry

When: (date to be confirmed)

The Art of Poetry is a series of ekphrastic poetry events to be held at national art institutions and offers cross collaboration and dialogue between poetry, the visual arts and institutions. Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre, the Canberra Museum and Art Gallery and the National Gallery of Australia will be participating in this project.

Selected poets will be invited to respond to a work in the Centre's exhibition, Emerging Contemporaries. A dialogue between poet and artist will culminate in a poetry reading and floor talk. Stay tuned for further details.

Exhibition opening
Thursday 24 May 2012

When: 6.00pm
Where: Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre

You and your guests are invited to join Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre for the official opening of Embracing Innovation Volume 2, alphabet and Sanctum - Inga Svendsen at 6.00pm Thursday 24 May 2012.

» See upcoming exhibitions for more information.

Exhibition opening
Thursday 19 July 2012

When: 6.00pm
Where: Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre

You and your guests are invited to join Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre for the official opening of Signature, Foodjects Design and the New Cuisine in Spain and Canberra Bells and Ginninderra Peppercress - Cathy Franzi at 6.00pm Thursday 19 July 2012.

» See upcoming exhibitions for more information.

Exhibition opening
Thursday 6 September 2012

When: 6.00pm
Where: Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre

You and your guests are invited to join Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre for the official opening of Urban Forest - Dianne Firth, Landscapes and Place - Anne O'Callaghan, E.J. Lightman, Penelope Stewart, Jeannie Thib, Bev Hogg, Trish Roan and Canberra Potters' Society Award Exhibition - Moraig McKenna at 6.00pm Thursday 6 September 2012.

» See upcoming exhibitions for more information.

Exhibition opening
Thursday 1 November 2012

When: 6.00pm
Where: Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre

You and your guests are invited to join Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre for the official opening of Domestic Renewal, curated by Rohan Nichol; a solo exhibition by Accredited Professional Member Margaret Brown; and the annual Retail Award exhibition at 6.00pm Thursday 1 November 2012.

» See upcoming exhibitions for more information.

Craft ACT Shop

Take a sneak peek at some of the exquisite items available in the Craft ACT Shop. Whether you are looking for a special birthday gift, a farewell present, a housewarming treat or just something to say 'I love you' - you'll find a delightful array of hand-crafted products in store which are perfect for the occasion.

Did you know that the Craft ACT Shop has gift cards? Perfect for those instances when you're uncertain - let them choose! We're thrilled to announce that you can now purchase gift cards online. And we will post them, free of charge, to you or a friend.