Australian Design Centre is a contemporary craft and design organisation igniting creative ideas and building cultural vibrancy.
In 2020, we present 17 exhibitions and over 100 events in our three gallery spaces, 12 ADC On Tour openings and 200+ citywide events for Sydney Craft Week.
Working with over 700 creative practitioners, and from the expertly handcrafted to the latest advances in technology, from cross-disciplinary practice to the incredible knowledge, culture and traditions of continuing First Nations culture, our program engages the community in the possibility of making and design to creatively transform the lived experience.
Program Highlights
March sees the launch of ADC On Tour exhibition Made/Worn: Australian Contemporary Jewellery. Made/Worn includes the work of 22 contemporary jewellery artists. The artists are: Anna Davern, Bin Dixon-Ward, Blanche Tilden, Bridget Kennedy, Catherine Truman, Claire McArdle, Emma Fielden, Grace Lillian Lee, Helena Bogucki, Inari Kiuru, Jess Dare, Julie Blyfield, Liam Bensen, Lola Greeno, Manon van Kouswijk, Maree Clarke, Pennie Jagiello, Sian Edwards, Tiffany Parbs, Vicki Mason, Zoe Brand, Zoe Veness. This is a major ADC On Tour project launching in Sydney with a 10-stop national tour to follow.
Endangered + Extinct: Natalie Rosin features architectural ceramic sculptures depicting lost city buildings that are demolished or under threat by Sydney architecture graduate and ceramicist Natalie Rosin.
Generation Z in June looks at craft and design through the lens of the 18 to 25 year olds involving younger people in the work we do.
In August we present the 20th anniversary edition of WORKSHOPPED, including work by emerging and established object, lighting and furniture designers. WORKSHOPPED is Australia’s top awards program mentoring industrial designers and championing the manufacturing of Australian design.
In October the Seed Stitch Contemporary Textile Awards exhibition features the work of NSW contemporary textile and fibre artists. After Sydney the exhibition will tour to Tamworth Regional Art Gallery in early 2021.
To close the year ADC celebrates five years of Designing Bright Futures, an exhibition of work by graduates from the UNSW Art & Design bachelor and masters of design programs.
Partnerships and collaborations
Aside from our own exhibition projects, we are excited to partner and collaborate with leading cultural organisations to bring exhibitions to Sydney audiences.
Starting the year is a touring exhibition from Adelaide’s JamFactory exploring the innovative ways that concrete is being used by artists, designers and architects in CONCRETE: art design architecture.
Reflecting the importance of glass art to Australian craft and design, FUSE Glass Prize will showcase outstanding Australian and New Zealand glass artists. We are delighted to be presenting this important show in Sydney also with our partner JamFactory.
Open House: Tamworth Textile Triennale launches in June. Celebrating the open-end porous nature of textiles practice in Australia the exhibition is curated by Glenn Barkley and includes some of the best Australia’s contemporary textile artists.
In Object Space, our window gallery on William Street, we will present a further six exhibitions throughout the year.
Festivals
Sydney’s only festival dedicated to the handmade, Sydney Craft Week returns 9 - 18 October with the theme “Change Makers". Real to Reel: The Craft Film Festival will also show in the lead up to Sydney Craft Week.
2020 is looking strong for craft and design with a huge number of activities including: workshops, tours, talks, education programs, films and digital content, alongside the exhibition program. ADC’s popular curated twice-yearly Makers Market will return in March and October.
ADC On Tour
ADC On Tour, our national exhibition touring program, opens five exhibitions at 12 venues in 2020. These include:
- Made / Worn: Australian Contemporary Jewellery
- Seed Stitch Contemporary Textile Awards 2020
- Living Treasures: Masters of Australian Craft \ Prue Venables
- Obsessed: Compelled to make
- Clay Intersections
Find out more about ADC On Tour here.
Read the program brochure here
The support we receive to present this program comes from our government and corporate funding partners, philanthropic trusts and individual donors, adding to our own streams of self-generated revenue. If you would like to make a contribution to our campaign CREATIVITY MATTERS please click here.
Images:
Above: Jess Dare, From the series Making Time (detail), 2019. Photo: Marcus Ramsey.
Below: Vicki Mason, Eucalypt and wattle flowers, 2019. Photo: Andrew Barcham.
