Jane Burns passed away on 17 April 2024 at the age of 90 years.
Jane Burns was the founding Director and long-time CEO of the Crafts Council of Australia, as well as a founding member of the Arts Law Centre, National Association of the Visual Arts and numerous other organisations.
In 1988, Janes was awarded an Order of Australia medal for services to the crafts and, in 1992, the Australia Council’s Visual Arts/Crafts Board Emeritus Medal.
‘’Jane was definitely a craft legend/treasure, having led Craft Australia for decades with exhibitions, events, visitors, and the magazine. Her passion and knowledge of the sector were exceptional…, and she was so engaged in what was happening in the industry. She will be missed’’ – Liz Williamson, President of World Crafts Council Australia.
“Jane was a passionate advocate for Australian craft and its place in the world. She led Craft Australia with a unique combination of vivacity and wisdom. Her life will continue to inspire us all.” – Dr Kevin Murray, vice president of World Crafts Council International.
The Australian Design Centre acknowledges “Jane’s extensive contribution to Australian contemporary studio craft, a tireless dedication spanning over four decades.”
You are welcome to join us for a conversation about how craft is presented in the media, the state of writing about craft and in particular the scene in her hometown of Mittagong, the location of Sturt Gallery and Studios.
The Craft Cooee is Tuesday 26 March at 5pm (AEDT). Register on Zoom here.
Previous winners of WCC Award of Excellence from South Pacific
The Biennial Awards of Excellence for Craft are very well known in our neighbouring regions – less well known in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.
If you specialise in making production line ware that is of high quality, and unique to your country or region, please consider entering.
Past winners can brand their work as a Winner of the World Crafts Council Award of Excellence and the governing body is constantly looking for opportunities to market and present winners’ works. Winning entries will find a place in the Kokand Museum for craft in Uzbekistan.
Entries are due 10 April 2024.
You can find the form for applications for the Award of Excellence here.
Sandra Black accepting her award at the Ceramic Arts Association of WA Christmas party, November 2023Mary Dhapalany receiving her Craft Masters Award
World Crafts Council Australia is very proud to share news of the practitioners from the South Pacific who have been officially honoured with the title of Craft Masters of the Asia Pacific Region.
In November 2023, a jury meeting was held in Dongyang, China. Over four days, regional nominations from Central Asia, South Pacific, South Asia, West Asia, South East Asia and East Asia were reviewed and discussed by an 11-person jury representing all these regions. The jury process enabled jurors to see and glimpse the complexity, skill and traditions that underpin craft practices across the Asia Pacific.
The World Crafts Council Asia Pacific Region (WCC-APR) concluded the 4th Asia Pacific Region Craft Master Program, hosted in the vibrant city of Dongyang, China. The event, organised by the Municipal People’s Government of Dongyang City and the China Arts and Crafts Association, witnessed the gathering of craft enthusiasts, experts, and artists from around the world. The Asia Pacific Region Craft Master Program, initially launched in 2008 for China only, has expanded its coverage to the entire region, honouring craftsmen with over 30 years of professional practice for their outstanding contributions to the development of crafts. The final jury meeting, held from November 5 to 7, reviewed 66 pre-selected entries from six sub-regions of the Asia-Pacific region.
An international jury, consisting of 11 members, evaluated each application based on five endorsement criteria: extraordinary contribution to field, sustainable practice, international recognition, continuous learning, and international collaboration.
The jury was very interested in the aspects of intangible cultural heritage and passing on knowledge that otherwise might be lost through your art practice.
The South Pacific winners were:
South Pacific Greg Daly (Australia – Ceramics) Jennifer Kemarre Martiniello (Australia – Glass) Kaetaeta Watson & Louisa Humphry (New Zealand / Kiribati – Fiber Crafts) Kirstie Rea (Australia – Glass) Liz Williamson (Australia – Weaving) Marian Hosking (Australia – SilverSmithing) Mary Dhapalany (Australia – Fiber Crafts) Prue Venables (Australia – Ceramics) Sandra Black (Australia – Ceramics)
2023 has seen many contemporary textiles exhibitions around the country with several touring for several years plus numerous local and regional exhibitions. Is there a resurgence in interest and enhanced opportunities for crafts practitioners working in textiles? What’s driving this interest in both Indigenous and non-Indigenous textiles art and design works?
Hear from the directors of the organising institutions and curators of the Tamworth Textile Triennale 5, Residue + Response: connecting histories and cultures and the Jam Factory’s, New Exuberance: contemporary Australian textile design in art, design and fashion.
WoCCA President and Australian Living Treasure, Liz Williamson
World Crafts Council Australia supports the proposed Voice to Parliament. We acknowledge the primary status of First Nations peoples as custodians of our land for more than 60,000 years. The crafts of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are a unique contribution to our common human heritage. This includes traditional and contemporary objects made by practitioners across the country.
Enshrining the Voice in our constitution means that First Nations peoples will have an enduring say in matters that affect them. Their place in our governing will not depend on the politics of the day. Decisions can be made on what they believe is in their best interests. This is an act of trust that will offer hope for future generations.
As an organisation that reflects Australia’s place in the common heritage of humanity, we are grateful to be living in a country with this ancient culture that continues to flourish today. We support the Voice.
Jennifer Kemarre Martiniello, Large Sedge Reeds Eel Trap #3 – hot blown glass with canes, 102 cm long x 24.5 cm diam., 2017, collection Museum of Applied Arts and. Sciences, Powerhouse, Sydney
NSW.
World Crafts Council Asia Pacific called for applications from the South Pacific sub-region to the Craft Master Program. The aim is to recognise and honour masters in their chosen craft form.
Initiated in 2008, the Asia Pacific Region Craft Master program has organized three evaluations respectively in 2008, 2012 and 2016. It is organized every 4 years. Due to the pandemic, the 4th evaluation has been postponed to the year 2023.
60 finalists from the Asia Pacific Region will be nominated by their respective regions (10 from our region the South Pacific) and 30 finalists will be flown to Donyang China for the Awards Ceremony.
The 43 entries from the South Pacific region revealed an extraordinary group of craftspersons whose careers combine artistic success and leadership through education and mentoring. Unfortunately, our quota was limited to ten for this program.
The ten finalists from the South Pacific region selected by our judging panel are:
Greg Daly
Jennifer Kemarre Martiniello
Kaetaeta Watson & Louisa Humphry
Kirstie Rea
Liz Williamson
Marian Hosking
Mary Dhapalany
Prue Venables
Rangi Kipa
Sandra Black
We’re thrilled that our region is represented on the world stage but such an impressive group of craft masters. We respectfully acknowledge their significant contribution to our vibrant craft scene.
We will keep you updated about the outcome of the judging of world craft masters in China. And we look forward to a new crop of masters in the next iteration of this program in 2027.
Chair of the judging panel Jude van der Merwe comments, “I recently had the honour and privilege of being part of a skilled panel appointed to review nominations for the World Crafts Council Asia Pacific Craft Masters Award 2023. 43 nominations were received from Australia, Aotearoa/New Zealand and South Pacific islands. The quality and breadth of practice was astonishing and we are so grateful to all those skilled people who took the time and trouble to participate.”
We’re thrilled that our region is represented on the world stage but such an impressive group of craft masters. We respectfully acknowledge their significant contribution to our vibrant craft scene.
Ten finalists have been forwarded to the main panel in China and we look forward to seeing how the program unfolds over the next few months.
There will be presentations by the following guests: Grace Cochrane – independent curator, writer, and historian of contemporary crafts and design; Meghen Jones, Associate Professor of Art History, New York State College of Ceramics of Alfred University (participating with a recorded message); Paul Davis, ceramicist; and Jacqueline Clayton, ceramicist and teacher.
This digital archive emerged from a desire to document Hiroe’s creative practice in the studio through a series of technical demonstrations. The edited film captures a step-by-step process of how the magic happens and is augmented by an interview with Hiroe, adding further insight into her methods. The online archive documents over 210 ceramic works accompanied by essays from Grace Cochrane AM, Dr Chiaki Ajioka, Meredith Hinchliffe AM, and Alan Watt.
Drill Hall Gallery kindly offers to hold the public launch and the pop-up exhibition.
The pop-up exhibition will showcase the artworks featured in the video on the digital archive website and Hiroe Swen’s artwork in the ANU Art Collection.
ANU Drill Hall Gallery, Wednesday, 3 May to Sunday, 21 May.
The world of Hiroe Swen digital archive is supported by the ACT Government through ArtsACT funding and the NSW Government through Create NSW:
Cultural agencies who have assisted the project include the ANU Drill Hall Gallery, the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra Museum and Art Gallery, Art Gallery of South Australia, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, and 14 other art galleries in Australia.
Australian Living Treasure, silversmith Marian Hosking
A successful craft nation depends on those who have fulfilled a successful career and are able to pass on their skills and knowledge to the next generation. A program to recognise these “masters” aims to support these senior makers as models to which younger makers can aspire. This recognition offers a base on which to build support for the mentorship of those who are early in their career.
There are so many ways we celebrate our master sportsmen and women, as well as film actors. It’s important we also recognise those whose beautiful and skillfully made works will be enjoyed by future generations.
World Crafts Council Asia Pacific is calling for applications from the South Pacific sub-region to the Craft Master Program. The aim is to recognise and honour masters in their chosen craft form.
Initiated in 2008, the Asia Pacific Region Craft Master program has organized three evaluations respectively in 2008, 2012 and 2016. It is organized every 4 years. Due to the pandemic, the 4th evaluation has been postponed to the year of 2023.
This program was proposed to
honour the craftspeople who have made outstanding contributions to the development of crafts in the region, and to promote their social status in local society
to provide opportunities for craftspeople from different countries of the region to exchange ideas and experiences, and to enhance international awareness of craft tradition in the Asia Pacific Region
to encourage more talented people to join in the work of passing on, promoting, and developing the handicraft tradition in the region.
Qualifications of applicants
Handicrafts practitioner
The person must have a minimum of 30-year experience in handicrafts production
Applicants must be above the age of 50 (including 50), are still able to create and teach artworks
Judging criteria
Applicant must be an experienced and accomplished craft practitioner.
Applicant made excellent achievements and earned a high reputation at home and abroad.
Applicant’s work/s must have been acknowledged and received awards for works in national craft competitions or exhibitions.
Applicant’s work/s must have been selected to be displayed in national-level museums and galleries or at international exhibitions.
Applicant must show proof of teaching and training the skills of their craft.
60 finalists from the Asia Pacific Region will be nominated by their respective regions (10 from our region the South Pacific) and 30 finalists will be flown to Donyang China for the Awards Ceremony. Applications for consideration by the Jury are due by 5 April 2023. A jury will be formed comprising suitably qualified experts to select ten finalists.
China will host accommodation and airfares for 30 masters to Dongyang, China plus several artworks and necessary tools submitted for final evaluation for the awards ceremony. Selected artists are requested to do some live demonstrations (details worked out following selection). Invitations will go out by April 16 for a ceremony in early June.
Join the board of the World Crafts Council – Australia to hear from the organisers of three major events that build and maintain community in the contemporary jewellery field. New Zealand’s Nelson Jewellery week organisers will speak alongside Australian speakers from JMGA WA (Jewellers and Metalsmiths Group) and Radiant Pavilion about the aims, logistics and outcomes of pulling together these important large-scale events.
Speakers:
Chloe Powell – Radiant Pavilion
Kay van Dyk and Katie Pascoe – Nelson Jewellery Week
Robin Wells and Claire Townsend – JMGA WA conference
