2025 Exhibitions and Events Program

Australian Design Centre (ADC) has for six decades amplified and strengthened contemporary craft and design.  We are excited to present our 2025 program of activities as we launch into a new decade in contemporary craft and design.

NSW is home to 40 per cent of Australia’s creative industries and is a leading force in Australia for internationally renowned craft and design practice. We believe that people in NSW want to be creative leaders of the future. They want to make things and problem solve through design. They want to do this in responsible ways that care for, and restore, our beautiful yet fragile environment. They want to experience the sense of purpose, community and wellbeing that comes from making and appreciating handmade objects and good design.

ADC's annual program of exhibitions and events showcases the very best in craft and design practice by artists and designers from across NSW and Australia.

Join us in Sydney and across the country and be inspired by these creative innovators.

Major Exhibitions

re/JOY Vipoo Srivilasa
until 19 February 2025
Ceramic artist Vipoo Srivilasa’s solo exhibition re/JOY represents his most significant body of work to date, and the largest the artist has ever attempted. re/JOY captures the diversity of migration stories and how people build their different lives in Australia. This project is funded by Creative Australia and Visions of Australia.

Crafted Liberation
until 19 February 2025
Crafted Liberation is a collective action, transforming headscarves donated by Iranian women into stadium seats, as a statement for women’s empowerment. These headscarves, once symbols of enforced tradition, now embody personal choice and resilience. Through circular material innovation and storytelling, these objects amplify Iranian women's inspiring journeys, creating spaces for acceptance, belonging, and dialogue.

Profile 2025: JMGA-NSW Contemporary Jewellery and Object Award
13 March to 17 May 2025
A partnership project with the Jewellery and Metalsmiths Group – NSW, Profile is a biennial exhibition produced and presented by Australian Design Centre with prizes supported by JMGA-NSW. The previous edition showcased the work of over 70 contemporary jewellers and object makers.

Robert Foster Metal Prize
13 March to 17 May 2025
The Robert Foster Metal Prize is a touring exhibition from Craft + Design Canberra presenting contemporary metal work by 15 finalists from across Australia.

ADC x National Indigenous Art Fair
22 May to 5 July 2025
An exhibition of object-based work from selected Aboriginal Art Centres participating in the National Indigenous Art Fair. This exhibition is produced and presented by ADC in collaboration with NIAF.

New Exuberance: Contemporary Australian Textile Design
10 July to 16 August 2025
New Exuberance: Contemporary Australian Textile Design is a touring exhibition from JamFactory reflecting on current directions in textile practice through art, design and fashion featuring the work of more than 30 diverse multidisciplinary creatives.

Living Treasures: Masters of Australian Craft/Helen Britton
28 August to 1 October 2025
Australian Design Centre presents the tenth exhibition of work by NSW/Munich based artist Helen Britton in this ADC On Tour series profiling major Australian craft artists. The project is funded by Visions of Australia with support from Creative Australia.

MAKE Award: Biennial Prize for Innovation in Australian Craft and Design
10 October to 19 November
This major Australian Design Centre national juried prize for creative innovation returns with a $45,000 prize and national touring exhibition of the finalists. The MAKE Award is generously funded by a major philanthropic gift.

Object Space

Object Space on William Street will be showcasing six exciting exhibitions in 2025, including the collaboration with Regional Arts NSW with three exhibitions by regional NSW designer makers.

Object Digital

Object Digital is our online place for publishing articles, interviews and other interesting stuff about contemporary craft and design. We look forward to bringing you lots of new content in 2025.  

Object Podcast

We’re planning a new series of Object Podcast for the second half of 2025. Stay tuned for more details

Upcoming Events

Storytelling Circle: Voices of Resilience
When: Saturday 8 February, 1pm
Book here

ADC Exhibition Tours
When: Weekly on Thursdays, 12pm
Book here

re/JOY Closing Event
To celebrate this joyous body of work by acclaimed ceramic artist Vipoo Srivilasa, and send it off on tour around Australia, please join us for drinks with the artist 2- 3:30pm on Saturday 15 February 2025.

Vipoo Srivilasa’s superb exhibition re/JOY continues until 19 February.
When: Saturday 15 February, 2-3:30pm
Book here

ADC Special Maker Marketplace (to be followed by Saturday Maker Marketplace series from February - June 2025)
When: Friday 28 February, 4-7pm and Saturday 1 March, 11am-3pm
Free event, no booking required

PROFILE 2025: JMGA-NSW Contemporary Jewellery and Object Award Opening Night
When: Thursday 13 March, 6-8pm
Book (TBC)

Sydney Craft Week Festival
10-19 October 2025

The 9th annual festival returns during October celebrating the handmade and encouraging audience participation in a range of hands on making for everyone in the community to get involved.

For more events check the What’s On page on the website or subscribe for updates and special invitations.

Touring in 2025

National

In 2025 two ADC exhibitions tour to eight locations across regional Australia through ADC On Tour in collaboration with our national touring exhibition partners.

SIXTY: The Journal of Australian Ceramics 60th Anniversary

Hazelhurst Arts Centre, NSW
29 November 2024 to 25 January 2025

YAM, Yarrila Arts and Museum, Coffs Harbour, NSW
15 February to 30 March 2025

Canberra Potters, Watson Arts Centre, ACT
8 or 9 May to 8 June 2025

Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery, QLD
16 August – 12 October 2025

Grafton Art Gallery, NSW
4 December 2025 to 1 February 2026

re/JOY (Vipoo Srivilasa)

JamFactory Seppeltsfield, SA
8 March to 22 June 2025

Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, TAS
11 July to 24 August 2025

Geelong Gallery, VIC
6 September to 2 November 2025

Tweed Art Gallery, NSW
14 November 2025 to 8 February 2026

International

This year we are working on two international projects in Munich and Miami. More details coming soon.