The Indigenous Jewellery Project

06/11/2025

The news of the forced closure of Australian Design Centre is shocking, an appalling decision by state and federal governments to cut funding to one of the most important and successful arts organisations and public galleries in Australia.

ADC have been incredible supporters of The Indigenous Jewellery Project, supporting several major projects with art centres, which had an enormous impact on the practice of First Nations jewellers and presented their work to a wide audience for the first time.

It is precisely the kind of work the government should be funding, as its positive impacts are immensely far reaching in both Indigenous communities and across broader society.

Please sign the petition here:

https://www.change.org/p/save-the-australian-design-centre-a-d-c-nsw

https://www.artshub.com.au/news/opinions-analysis/with-adcs-forced-closure-ceo-reflects-on-ambition-and-legacy-2829201/

CEO Lisa Cahill reflects on Australian Design Centre in the wake of the organisation’s announced 2026 closure.

19/06/2025

Important Announcement | Australian Design Centre (ADC) is an integral part of the arts ecology in Australia. This small, dynamic, independent organisation has nurtured and supported thousands of artists since 1964, presenting their work locally, nationally and internationally across extensive exhibition, touring, retail, publishing and digital platforms.

Today we announce the difficult news that both Federal and State governments, through Creative Australia and Create NSW, have chosen not to support Australian Design Centre with four year operational funding.

This means that from 2026 ADC will no longer have the $500,000 in base level funding needed to support annual operations.

Despite ADC being recommended by peers for funding, decisions by government quoting a lack of available funds and other priorities, means that NSW will be the only state/territory in Australia without a government funded organisation dedicated to craft and design practice.

The Future | While ADC continues to deliver an ambitious program in 2025, the volunteer board and the team are imagining the future for 2026 and beyond.

We invite proposals in confidence from organisations, institutions, and individuals with an interest in ensuring that the legacy of ADC can continue.

Written proposals submitted in confidence should include:

A brief overview of the interested party including financial capacity and relevant experience.
Nature and scope of interest.
Strategic rationale for interest.

The ADC Board will consider all proposals submitted in confidence by 15 August 2025 to [email protected]

Any questions about this opportunity to contribute to a future for Australian Design Centre should be directed to the Executive Director (CEO and Artistic Director) Lisa Cahill on (02) 93614555 or [email protected]

To find out more, please visit or ADC website 🔗

.australia .spender

07/05/2024

Wonderful to see the ‘Sabagorar Susueri (Bridal Pendant)’ by Emily Beckley with in the collection of the Art Cases out in the community and being engaged with 💫 such a great program were were thrilled to be a part of.

Posted • .canberra We had the immense delight and privilege of experiencing the travelling art cases. Access and inclusion at its finest. Studio& artists were deeply moved, inspired and grateful for the intimate meeting with these pieces in our safe space, the studio. Thankyou learning team for your support in making this happen.
Please go to nga.gov.au/learn/art-cases/ to learn more about having this experience in your community.

Installation view, ‘Past, Present and Future’ Art Case (yellow), 2023, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra © the artists

Image description: photo of a large yellow travel case with three artworks displayed on top of case and four in front of it.

.piccinini

27/02/2024

It was great to meet model Cassie Puruntatameri at her brother Leon Russell Black’s exhibition at stand at

Cassie modelled pieces by Marrnyula Mununggurr & Marawaymala Yunupingu from our Bulay(i) project with Buku-Larnngay Mulka & and our Emily Beckley project at ANU Art & Design Jewellery & Object studio with
Workshops with Mel Young
At with 2020

Ngali featuring artwork by Lindsay Malay

Designer Programming & Digital Fashion Film Production: Event Gallery; Creative Director & Stylist: Joseph Romano; Film by Ngali; Cinematographer: Josh Hourigan; Hair by KEVIN.MURPHY; Makeup Director: Samantha Coles

09/06/2023

We have reached 2K followers! Thank you for your continued support. We could not have done it without each of you. 🙏🤗🎉

06/04/2023

The Indigenous Jewellery Project & in Belonging to us:

This exhibition tells the story of ten years of Shelanu: Women’s Craft Collective.

Also featuring work by eight other organisations, it celebrates the social impact of projects which provide safe spaces for women’s creative development and the innovative and imaginative new products they create for the marketplace. Presenting work by social enterprises: The Flourish Jewellery Project, MasterPeace Academy and Love Welcomes.

Shelanu, which means ‘belonging to us’, is a collective of migrant and refugee women working with Craftspace to develop craft skills, confidence and well-being through social enterprise. They produce high quality craft inspired by their new home, the city of Birmingham and their experiences of migration. As well as learning new making skills, the women are supported to improve their English, learn business skills and run workshops for the community.

To celebrate the launch of the Belonging to Us exhibition, highlighted are other international organisations which support women’s enterprise through craft:
Monkeybiz South Africa; An Australian Design Centre and Indigenous Jewellery Project collaboration; Hadithi Crafts; Bosna Quilt Werkstatt; The Siyazama Project supported by Editions in Craft, demonstrating the geographical range of organisations/projects, which support women’s development through craft.

Belonging to Us
April 3 - April 28 2023
Vittoria Street Gallery
School of Jewellery, Birmingham City University, Vittoria Street
Birmingham, B1 3PA United Kingdom