Author: WoCCA

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.

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.

Please find the information on the public launch as the following. 

When: Saturday, May 13, 2-4 pm

Link to reserve online

Where: Drill Hall Gallery, ANU

Kingsley St, Acton ACT 2601

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.

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

Tuesday 11 April 6-7pm (AEST)

Register on Zoom here.

Join us to celebrate the recovery of a precious moment in Australian craft history.

In the late 1970s, the Crafts Council of Australia commissioned a series of extraordinary short films about Australian craftspersons. These included leading directors of the time, such as Peter Weir and Gillian Armstrong. These are currently stored in the National Film and Sound Archive. World Crafts Council – Australia is seeking your support to help digitise these so they can be seen by us today and for future generations. These films are a powerful testament to the value of craft in Australian culture.

“Heart, Head and Hand” (1979) is 20-minute documentary featuring scenes from the life and work of potter Peter Rushforth. “This film shows how Rushforth’s philosophy and strong belief in craft as a way of life has reached all those with whom he had been in contact, and the respect and admiration in which he is held both personally and professionally by students, colleagues and friends.”

The screening will be followed by a discussion including Janet DeBoos, who features in the film.  

Join us to witness the recovery of this magical history and help support our craft heritage.

As part of the Australian Craft Map project, we crowdsourced nearly 300 different craft associations throughout the country. The next phase is to make this map accessible so that anyone can know where they can find local and beautiful craft.

In our next WoCCA Conversation, we will launch our first Google Map: Australian Craft Destinations. But this is only one part of the process. For the benefits of this map to be realised, craft galleries, workshops and retail outlets need to ensure that they have an entry in Google Maps. Once this entry is made, it is not only a way for the craft destination to be found, it can also be a way for visitors to share their experiences.

The conversation will be led by WoCCA’s map expert, Sandra Simmons. We will also hear from a variety of enterprises across the country about their experience in managing their Google Maps entry.

Let’s rise up. It’s time for craft to be visible.

Tuesday 6 September 2022, 17:00 (AEST)

Zoom registration:  https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIvceCtqDIpE9Oa8JSNtmJ-Q9hp7-S8Gjqy

Join a discussion with those responsible for the important collections that ensure our wonderful craft works are enjoyed by future generations. We consider key questions:

• What are the criteria for acquisitions?
• What kinds of craft is of interest and value for particular collections?
• What are the challenges faced by a curator involved in collecting craft?
• Which acquisitions are you particularly proud of?
• How can craft organisations promote and encourage the collecting of craft?
• What impact does the acquisition have on the artist?

Presenters include:

• Eva Czernis-Rhyl, Powerhouse Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (NSW)
• Tarun Nagesh, QAGOMA (QLD)
• Mel George, Bulabula Arts Centre (NT)
• Philip Clarke, Blumhardt Fund (NZ)
• Rebecca Edwards, National Gallery of Australia (ACT)
• Claire Liersch, Shepparton Art Museum (VIC)
• Sue Lostroh, Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery (QLD)
• Peter Hughes, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TAS)
• Bin Dixon-Ward, Bluestone Collection (VIC)

Time: 26 July 2022 at 5pm (AEST) see link for time where you are.

Zoom registration link

Every two months, we seek views on the state of craft in Australia, including international exchanges. The conversation is rounded off with a cooee around the states to hear of recent news, events, projects, exhibitions and issues. This is a one-hour Zoom event open to WoCCA members through a registration link sent in our email newsletter.