Dear Friends, 

2015 has been a big year in the arts and cultural space. At the Australian Design Centre we celebrated 50 years of working in craft and design, and moved to our new home in William Street, Darlinghurst. A big thanks to the City of Sydney, Those Architects and Built for helping to make this happen, and to all those who have visited our new home in these first months.

Our gallery space has enjoyed several exciting exhibitions this year, including Julie Paterson's Cloth: Seeds to Bloom, and a collaboration with the Australian Museum on Future Nature. A special highlight for me this year, and one of our most exquisite exhibitions from the last ten years, is Lyn Balzer and Tony Perkins’ Scented Intoxication - a beautiful amalgamation of jewellery and object design inspired by the natural wonders (and scents) of the Australian landscape.

We've also had a busy year of touring around the country with four exhibitions, including CUSP: Designing in the Next Decade, which I had the pleasure of opening in Launceston earlier this year. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all our regional touring partners for their collaborative efforts on Lola Greeno: Cultural Jewels, Cloth: Seeds to Bloom, CUSP: Designing in the Next Decade, and Resolved: Journeys in Australian Design. We look forward to bringing these exhibitions to more new audiences around Australia in 2016. 

Taking a moment to reflect on the bigger picture, the experience over the past six months has been difficult for many in the arts and cultural sector.  We have seen budget cuts to the Australia Council and a Senate committee that has considered the views of so many in the sector concerned about the government’s stance on arts funding. My hope is that, over the holiday period, those in a position to effect change consider the Senate committee recommendations and see 2016 as a positive and constructive year to truly support our creative culture.

As we close the year, I'd like to acknowledge the Australian Design Centre team and Board members for their continued hard work. It has been a very successful year for us but it wouldn't have been possible without their efforts. Particular thanks goes to our Chair, Anthony Burke, for his leadership and support.

I'd like to thank our supporters whose generosity and foresight have been instrumental in our capacity to continue to produce innovative exhibitions and public programs. In this anniversary year we have raised an incredible $100,000 in new income for the Australian Design Centre.  

All the best to you and your families for the festive season. I look forward to seeing you in 2016.

Steven Pozel

Coming up in 2016

After a successful two-year national tour, highlights from CUSP: Designing into the Next Decade will be our first exhibition for 2016. CUSP explores creative solutions to some of the biggest challenges that we face today as a global society, encouraging us to learn and experience new ideas through problem solving.

We are also very excited to announce a return partnership with the Western Plains Cultural Centre for the launch of our new exhibition Shapeshifters: 3D Printing the Future in January 2016. Featuring design practitioners across sculptural, furniture, fashion, architecture and jewellery, the exhibition explores creative innovation made possibly by 3D printing. Shapeshifters will open in Sydney in May 2016 for its season at the Australian Design Centre gallery. 

Lucy Simpson & Nicole Monks will be joining us for twelve months as part of our Indigenous Design Mentorship program, supported generously by Arts NSW. We are very excited to have them on board and we'll be launching their works later next year. 

The Australian Design Centre will be closed from Friday 18 December 2015 until Monday 4 January 2016. The gallery will re-open on Saturday 30 January with CUSP: Designing in the Next Decade.

Stay tuned at australiandesigncentre.com and on our social channels.

Image credit: ADC William Street (Boaz Nothman), ADC Gallery (Boaz Nothman), Holodecks (Lukasz Karluk)