The ANU School of Art and Design is pleased to host a public seminar event with Lauren England (from King’s College London in partnership with Crafts Council UK)

5:15 Welcome and introduction

In this presentation, Lauren England will provide an overview of her research on professional development education for craft in the UK. This will include her recommendations for higher education providers, policy makers and craft sector stakeholders to facilitate the professional development of early-career makers and support the establishment of sustainable craft enterprise. Lauren will also introduce some of the strategies Craft graduates currently employ to establish their practices in the UK. 

6:00-7:00 Craft graduate strategies: a forum discussion. Chaired by Nadège Desgenétez, Lecturer, ANU SOA&D

How do crafts graduates establish and sustain their professional creative practice, how do they set up businesses? What skills and resources do they need today, what challenges does the sector face? 
Short presentations by local Craft sector stakeholders will introduce the diverse approaches ACT institutions employ to support the transition of Craft graduates into professional practice. A forum discussion will then draw on all the attendees’ expertise to gather insights from educational and professional perspectives, and help shape the future pedagogical and professional opportunities that best support emerging craft practitioners in Australia.

Lauren England is a PhD student at King’s College London working in partnership with Crafts Council UK. Her research investigates professional development practices in UK craft higher education and the requirements for sustainable business development in the UK’s contemporary craft sector. As part of her PhD Lauren has published reports via Crafts Council UK on craft entrepreneurship and higher education policy. 

The panel: Dr Rohan Nicol: Deputy Head of School and Head of Jewellery & Object, ANU SOA&D | Aimee Frodsham: Artistic Director Canberra Glassworks | Kate Nixon: Programs Director Craft ACT and Design Canberra | Chelsea Lemon: Designer and maker, graduate of SOA&D Furniture Workshop.