CRAFT & DESIGN CENTRE

Applicants notified by Friday 29 April 2016
Placement: One residency placement is available to:

• a Craft ACT member or national craft practitioner/designer-maker and

• an international craft practitioner/designer-maker

Location: The residency is undertaken at Gudgenby Ready-Cut Cottage, Namadgi National Park, Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The research period will be conducted in Canberra, ACT.
Residency period:  Total residency period of one month per artist (a two week residency in Namadgi National Park and a two week research period in Canberra), as per the dates offered below by Craft ACT: Craft + Design Centre:
International craft practitioner/designer-maker:
Research period, Canberra:
From Thursday 15 September 2016 to Thursday 29 September 2016Residency, Namadgi National Park: From Friday 30 September 2016 to Friday 14 October 2016
Craft ACT member or national craft practitioner/designer-maker:
Research period, Canberra:
From Friday 30 September 2016 to Friday 14 October 2016
Residency, Namadgi National Park:
From Monday 17 October 2016 to Monday 31 October 2016Applications must be received no later than 5.00pm Friday 8 April 2016. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. For enquiries, further information or artist contract specifics, please contact Gwenyth Macnamara at gwenyth.macnamara[at]craftact.org.au or on 02 6262 9333.
Expression of Interest Information
Craft ACT: Craft + Design Centre is the peak craft and design organisation in Canberra and the region. The Centre has a 40 year history and a nationally recognised reputation for its outstanding artistic program. It has gained international recognition in showcasing high quality innovative Australian craft and design.
The Centre supports craft practitioners and designer-makers at all levels of career and manages a retail outlet, an innovative exhibition program, a membership program and a diverse range of public programs and one-off projects.
The Artist-in-Residence program is presented in partnership with ACT Parks and Conservation Service. It is supported by the artsACT artist-in-residence initiative.
One residency placement will be offered to a Craft ACT member craft practitioner or designer-maker and one placement to an international craft practitioner or designer-maker. All applications submitted are considered by the Craft ACT: Craft + Design Centre Artistic Program Sub-committee and the CEO/Artistic Director.
Residency theme: Partnerships and Collaborations: arts, heritage and the environment
Over the past 10 years, arts, heritage and the environment have been the cornerstones of the residency program bringing together diverse ideas, approaches and people. Craft practitioners and designer-makers working in mediums such as glass, textiles and wood have produced work reflective of the region’s most relevant heritage and environmental issues. In 2016, Craft ACT and ACT Parks & Conservation Service celebrate and reflect on the significance of this 10 year partnership.
This year, the theme of Partnerships and Collaborations: arts, heritage and the environment will share ideas and foster collaboration between disciplines. The program brings together new and past participant artists, writers, curators and program research partners and will re-engage past audiences (and attract new ones) to create a greater visibility for craft and design in the ACT and further awareness of Canberra’s distinct natural and cultural landscape. The outcomes of these partnerships and collaborations will culminate in an exhibition in 2017 to reflect the theme of Partnerships and Collaborations: arts, heritage and the environment.
The aim of the Artist-in-Residence program is to offer opportunities for artists to:

• Raise their professional profile both in Australia and internationally through participating in an international cross-cultural residency program
• To make new work for the 2017 artist-in-residence exhibition in the Craft ACT Gallery and be published in a catalogue distributed nationally and internationally. The publication will feature images of the artists during their residency period, their work and essays about their experience
• Be alone within a unique environment to focus solely on their professional practice
• Access the national park and park rangers to explore sensitive heritage sites and environmental areas, allowing for the cross-pollination of the arts, heritage and environment
• Access national cultural and research institutions and collections and strengthen areas of professional practice through a sustained research period
• Have the opportunity to network with participating local or international artists – to share ideas and form relationships that may lead to future opportunities, collaboration or joint projects
• Increase knowledge and understanding of cultures, and cultural exchanges between countries
• Engage with the community through participating in public programs such as an Open Day, a forum, an artist talk, a workshop and/or other events as agreed.

Eligibility
The Artist-in-Residence program expressions of interest are open to professional, practicing craft practitioners and designer-makers who have a demonstrated history of excellence in their practice. Applications are open to Craft ACT members, national craft and design practitioners and international artists. Group applications are not accepted.
There is a public program component and selected artists are required to participate in community engagement activities, such as an artist talk, forum, workshop and an Open Day during the residency period.
Please note, international applicants must demonstrate good written and spoken English skills to participate in the public program and to understand their responsibilities relating to occupational health and safety protocol within the park.
Residency Information
This residency has been designed to allow craft practitioners and designer-makers to extend their artistic boundaries through a unique period to focus on the development of their work and ideas. For this reason and due to national park safety procedures,visitors, including partners, children and friends of resident artists are not permitted to join them during the program at the residency sites.
Artists-in-residence have the use of a living and working space at Gudgenby Ready-Cut Cottage in Namagdi National Park. The site is remote and isolated in the Australian bush and artists must be self-sufficient. The cottage is located approximately 50-60km from the nearest town centre, Tharwa, ACT.
The Gudgenby Ready-Cut Cottage is a fully furnished and powered site. Artists must have access to their own transport and provide their own food and linen.
Namadgi National Park is a wildlife sanctuary. Pets and other animals are not allowed into the National Park and Nature Reserve.
Costs and Subsidies
The Artist-in-Residence program is supported by the artsACT artist-in-residence initiative and benefits from the financial support of Craft ACT: Craft + Design Centre. A stipend of AUD $1,500.00 will be provided for each artist-in-residence, payable in full at the commencement of the residency, or as otherwise arranged.
Financial support of up to $3,500 AUD for travel expenses to and from Canberra will be provided by Craft ACT: Craft + Design Centre to the selected international artist. This will cover a return airfare as well as car hire for the two week period whilst residing in the park. The Centre will arrange car hire on behalf of the international artist as required.
Accommodation at Gudgenby Ready-Cut Cottage is provided to artists-in-residence at no cost. Accommodation in Canberra for the international artist in Canberra to undertake research and participate in the public program will be provided by Craft ACT: Craft + Design Centre. Artists will cover all living and transport expenses for the duration of the residency.
Craft ACT: Craft + Design Centre will provide a suitable amount of firewood for use during the residency. Artists are responsible for covering any further firewood supplies as needed.
Contract
Craft ACT: Craft + Design Centre requires each artist-in-residence to enter into a short term contract with the Centre for the duration of the residency and the exhibition in 2017. The Contract must be signed by both parties before the residency commences.
As part of the Artist-in-Residence program at Namadgi National Park, a Site Usage Agreement (SUA) between the artist and Craft ACT: Craft + Design Centre is required. The artist is required to agree to and sign the SUA prior to commencement, as well as to attend an on-site induction provided by ACT Parks and Conservation Service. The SUA forms part of the residency Contract between Craft ACT: Craft + Design Centre and the artist.
Sale of works
The artist will make all work available for sale during the residency exhibition unless prior approval to the contrary has been given in writing by the Gallery.
Craft ACT: Craft + Design Centre applies a 35% commission on the selling price of all works sold during the exhibition period. If Australian, the artist will supply an ABN or Statement by a Supplier and GST status before the exhibition commences.      
For more information, click here.