Australian Design Centre

Australian Design Centre We are a leading centre for contemporary craft and design in Australia Entry is free to all exhibitions.

Australian Design Centre is a major contemporary craft and design organisation igniting creative ideas and building cultural vibrancy. We take a lead role developing and supporting Australia’s craftspeople and designers to build audiences for their work globally. We do this through our extensive exhibition, festival, touring, retail, publishing and learning platforms. Located in Sydney’s Darlinghu

rst, we present up to 20 exhibitions and over 100 events each year including workshops, markets, talks, demonstrations and lectures, along with a city-wide festival Sydney Craft Week. Our retail space, Object Shop sells handmade, collectible design by over 100 Australian makers.

This latest article about the state of the arts in NSW ( sydneymorningherald Linda Morris 30 April) reports on a parlia...
04/05/2026

This latest article about the state of the arts in NSW ( sydneymorningherald Linda Morris 30 April) reports on a parliamentary inquiry which recommended the NSW Government restore baseline funding to ADC and advocate for emergency funding from the Federal Government. In an update to the article online the Minister said the government will respond to the report by 29 July. This may be too late for ADC. We have sought a meeting with the Minister.





NSW Parliamentary Committee recommends reinstatement of baseline funding to ADC.A report tabled in NSW Parliament today ...
29/04/2026

NSW Parliamentary Committee recommends reinstatement of baseline funding to ADC.

A report tabled in NSW Parliament today recommends that baseline funding be restored to Australian Design Centre.

Recommendation 12: "That the NSW Government urgently restore baseline funding to the Australian Design Centre from $150,000 to $500,000 per annum for 2026 and 2027 to enable the state's only government-supported institution dedicated to craft and design to continue operations beyond 30 June 2026."

Recommendation 13: That the NSW Government advocate to the Federal Government for emergency Federal funding for the Australian Design Centre.

The report of Portfolio Committee No. 6 - Transport and the Arts, entitled 'Structure and funding of the arts, music, night-time economy, and transport portfolios'. The report was tabled in Parliament today and the government has three months to respond.

"We urge the NSW government to take action on this recommendation to restore $500,000 in base level funding for 2026 and 2027 to ADC immediately to prevent closure of the Centre which is imminent and that the government advocate on our behalf for Federal Funding to also be restored", said Australian Design Centre CEO Lisa Cahill.

Read the full report: https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/committees/inquiries/Pages/inquiry-details.aspx?pk=3150 -reportsandgovernmentresponses

"We thank the committee and the Chair Ms Cate Faehrmann MLC, for their thorough and considered investigations into this matter. We also thank everyone who made submissions to the enquiry in support of ADC", said Lisa Cahill

15 April 2026 | Linda Morris in the writes about the loss of the Centre now closed as we wind up operations.“ADC was es...
15/04/2026

15 April 2026 | Linda Morris in the writes about the loss of the Centre now closed as we wind up operations.

“ADC was established as Australia’s first Crafts Association on July 10, 1964 with leading architect Neville Guzman as its chair. The current funding crisis was tripped when last year $200,000 in annual federal funding and four-year state operational funding of $300,000 a year was stripped from the centre. “

“This last year has been a mix of hope and despair … to see all that we have built with government investment so wilfully destroyed and a part of Australia’s culture die. It’s wasteful.”

“UTS Pftofesdor of Architecture Anthony Burke said the loss of Australian Design Centre was catastrophic for the innovation economy. I think it’s a tragedy we are not funding the grassroots stuff that keeps design innovation moving forward.”



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The MAKE Award: Biennial Prize for Innovation in Australian Craft and Design was a major national award initiated by the...
12/04/2026

The MAKE Award: Biennial Prize for Innovation in Australian Craft and Design was a major national award initiated by the Australian Design Centre to champion excellence in contemporary craft and design.

The inaugural award in 2023 was won by Vipoo Srivilasa, with Jessica Murtagh awarded second place and a high commendation for Liz Williamson.

In 2025 the award was presented to Cinnamon Lee for NOCTUA, with second prize to Jake Rollins for SOFA1 and a highly commended award for Roseanne Bartley for A Poetry of Rings: The Mulga Alphabet.

Established through a generous private donation, the award recognised the richness and diversity of creative practice across Australia and celebrated artists who are pushing the boundaries of material, form and process.

Thank you to all participating artists spanning ceramics, glass, furniture, woodwork, metalwork, textiles and contemporary jewellery, thank you to past judges, partners and donors, and to the community for celebrating the artists shaping the future of Australian craft and design.

Exhibitions at ADCEstablished in Sydney in 1964, Australian Design Centre relocated to William Street in 2015.Since then...
07/04/2026

Exhibitions at ADC

Established in Sydney in 1964, Australian Design Centre relocated to William Street in 2015.

Since then, this space has hosted over 175 exhibitions featuring 2,388 artists, and 590 workshops, talks and market events attended by more than 100,000 people.

For a decade this building has been a place to encounter contemporary craft and design, meet makers and celebrate creativity.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of this story.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT 📣 The 10th annual Sydney Craft Week Festival will be presented by UNSW Faculty of Arts, Design & Ar...
02/04/2026

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT 📣

The 10th annual Sydney Craft Week Festival will be presented by UNSW Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture, School of Art & Design from 9-18 October 2026.

An initiative of Australian Design Centre (ADC), the first Sydney Craft Week Festival was produced by ADC in 2017 with the Sydney craft community.

Since that time the annual Festival has grown with 600 plus participating makers and artists, presenting 245 events over 37 suburbs and is enjoyed by an estimated 86,000 people.

Australian Design Centre CEO and Artistic Director, Lisa Cahill said:

“This Festival was a kernel of an idea ten years ago when we launched the first program. Since then, it has grown into a much-loved celebration of making. It showcases the immense talent we have in Sydney across the spectrum of craft practice.

With Australian Design Centre winding up operations after 62 years due to cuts in government funding, the future of the Festival was in doubt.

I am delighted that UNSW, which has always been a supporter of Sydney Craft Week, will step in to produce the 10th Festival in 2026.

The Festival theme in 2026 will be ‘Community’. This is a theme that features strongly in studios, workshops, local craft initiatives, and projects designed to benefit and advocate for communities. I know this will be embraced by participants and I look forward to enjoying the Festival in October.”

Professor Alison Gwilt, Head of School, UNSW Art & Design, said:

“UNSW Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture and the School of Art & Design are pleased to be making the 10th Sydney Craft Week possible in 2026.

For more: See link to ADC website news page.

Image: Reuben Davis

Object Space 2017 - 2026Since 2017, Object Space has been dedicated to presenting Australian craft and design seen by on...
02/04/2026

Object Space 2017 - 2026

Since 2017, Object Space has been dedicated to presenting Australian craft and design seen by one million passersby.

Located in the windows of Australian Design Centre, Object Space, a 24-hour gallery, showcased 53 exhibitions featuring the work of 104 artists.

We thank every artist who shared their work here and everyone who paused on the footpath to take a closer look.

After 62 years dedicated to presenting this country’s best craft and design, Australian Design Centre is set to close pe...
30/03/2026

After 62 years dedicated to presenting this country’s best craft and design, Australian Design Centre is set to close permanently by 30 June 2026.

ADC’s closure leaves NSW as the only Australian state without a peak organisation representing craft and design.

“Craft and design need sustained core support to continue to deliver for the Australian community. Without funding to operate institutions like the Australian Design Centre, artists and audiences suffer. Our culture, the economy, and individual and community health economy suffer.” - Lisa Cahill, ADC CEO & Artistic Director

Read the full story https://australiandesigncentre.com/latestnews/ADC-closure-what-will-be-lost/

This past weekend, Object Shop—championing Australian makers since 2016— opened its doors for the last time.For ten year...
29/03/2026

This past weekend, Object Shop—championing Australian makers since 2016— opened its doors for the last time.

For ten years Object Shop has presented unique, collectible, handmade work by 600+ Australian artists across textiles, woodwork, metalwork, jewellery, glass, ceramics, and print.

Thank you to all the designer makers who have been part of Object Shop, to the ADC staff and volunteers and to the community for buying work supporting local craft and design practice.

Find links to all the recent shop artists at australiandesigncentre.com

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101-115 William Street
Sydney, NSW
2010

Opening Hours

Tuesday 11am - 5pm
Wednesday 11am - 5pm
Thursday 11am - 5pm
Friday 11am - 5pm
Saturday 11am - 4pm

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