What people are saying

The following are example of open letters to the Arts Minister, The Hon Mr Simon Crean and local ministers.

Crafts downgraded by the Australia Council again

Helmut Lueckenhausen

In a review of 40 key organizations 12-13 September, the Visual Arts Board of the Australia Council decided to bring a 40-year history of national and international advocacy for the Australian craft design sector by CA to an end. Others have written, and will continue to draw attention to the issue of the inadequacy of the process, even in accordance with the Australia Council’s own published procedural guidelines. Read more

 OPEN LETTER: Why would you defund a cultural institution? 

Ray Norman 

 RE: Why would you defund a cultural institution?

Firstly, it must be said that neither you personally, nor your ministry, are seen as having defunded Craft Australia – an Australian Cultural Institution – but the 'institution' has nonetheless been defunded by the Australia Council's Visual Arts Board (VAB) [1] and ultimately in your name – albeit at arms' length. Read more

LETTER TO A LOCAL MEMBER: An expression of dismay!

Marion Marshall
I am writing to register my dismay that Craft Australia the National peak organization for the Crafts has been given notice that it will be defunded by the Visual Arts Board of the Australia Council.
As a craftsperson (a gold and silversmith) who has operated her studio and gallery for 37 years, successfully building a creative business which has employed and trained 19 people.  Read more

To send your letter in response to the defunding of Craft Australia more information  
Read submissions about the defunding of Craft Australia  Read more 
Comments on the petition Read more

Sign the Petition

  Dear friends and supporters of Craft Australia,

Since we were notified on 12 October that the organisation will not receive any more program funding from the Visual Arts board of the Australia Council beyond the end of December 2011, we have had overwhelming response in support for Craft Australia. We thank you for this amazing show of strength for craft and design practice.  Responses have come from our readers and supporters from all over the world.

We are sending you this update to keep you informed of the developments in our campaign to save Craft Australia and how you can continue to help us.  

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Make your voice heard in support for craft and design. 

• Spread the word, pass this notice on to your friends and networks, get them to do the same.
• Sign our online petition. The more people that sign, the stronger our argument for the importance of a national craft and design organisation.
• Write a comment on our blog, tell us how this will impact on you.
• Write a letter to the Visual Arts Board and tell them what you think, please send us a copy as well so we are all on the same page
• Write a letter to the Arts Minister, the Hon. Simon Crean MP
• Write a letter to your local government member

With your help we can show that craft and design matters.

Again, thank you for your ongoing support; we will keep you informed of our progress.

Catrina Vignando

General Manager

Related links

Sign our petition

Follow the Story  

CA, Presidents letter to the Visual Arts Board
Review Committee letter 

craft research: Craft Australia Need Us!!

International Support for CA

Read the link below to see what they are saying in Scotland about defunding Craft Australia.

craft research: Craft Australia Need Us!!: Craft Australia Defunded by the Australia Council Craft Australia is challenging this decision and is also seeking our support. If Craf...

Save Craft Australia

  Craft Australia Defunded by the Australia Council

Craft Australia is challenging this decision and is also seeking your support. 

What will you lose if Craft Australia is lost to the Australian craft and design sector. 

 The ramifications of not having a national peak organisation representing the craft and design sector are significant.

•  There will be no visible national portal to represent the work of the many artists, designers, gallerists, curators, writers and researchers working in this field.

•  Australia will be the only OECD country without a dedicated agency to advocate and promote the work of this area of practice.

• The many initiatives that Craft Australia has been advocating for that link craft and design with innovation and industry will be lost.

•  Substantial digital content about this sector will be lost, creating a significant knowledge gap about our cultural traditions.

How you can help: 

1. Sign our petition
2. Forward to petition to friends and interested parties 
3. Write to the Visual Arts Board, Chair Ted Snell email
4. Write to the Minister for the Arts Simon Crean MP contact details
5. Write to the Shadow Minister for the Arts George Brandis SC contact details
6. Write to your local Minister