JamFactory's Associate Program evolves in 2020
JamFactory is making the most significant changes to its highly acclaimed Associate Program since its inception, after over 45 years of supporting emerging artists, designers and craftspeople from across Australia and around the world.
Taking effect from 2020, JamFactory’s Associate Program will make the change from a 2-year Associateship to the introduction of a rigorous foundation year program with the opportunity to continue on as an Associate for a further 1 – 3 year/s with increased independence.
Foundation year Associates will focus intensely on the development of their creative and entrepreneurial skills. They will receive professional feedback and advice from Heads of Studios and external mentors and undertake specialist skills development workshops with international and local visiting artists and designers. The new program will also see JamFactory partner with Guildhouse to deliver a comprehensive series of business and marketing workshops led by industry professionals.
A number of interstate and international residency opportunities will be awarded on merit to Associates continuing beyond the Foundation year. These opportunities change from year to year and currently include workshops at Domaine de Boisbuchet in France, Corning Museum of Glass and Pilchuck Glass School in the United States, and Shiro Oni Studio in Japan.
JamFactory’s Associate Program provides outstanding career development opportunities for emerging artists and designers working in the fields of glass, furniture, ceramics or jewellery/metal. The program is aimed at individuals who have completed tertiary-level study in their chosen field and is designed to accelerate development of the professional and entrepreneurial skills required to establish and maintain a successful and sustainable creative career.
JamFactory’s CEO Brian Parkes says, "the program provides a platform for network building and peer-to-peer learning within a dynamic creative hub that attracts leading art, craft and design industry figures from across Australia and around the world."
Alumni from JamFactory’s Associate Program include leading Australian artists such as Clare Belfrage and Tom Moore (glass); Stephen Bowers and Honor Freeman (ceramics) and Kath Inglis and Peta Kruger (jewellery). Emerging designers from the program in JamFactory’s Furniture Studio include Rhys Cooper, Nicholas Fuller, Liam Mugavin and Dean Toepfer, who have featured very prominently as winners and finalists in national design awards and competitions over the past five years.
"We have seen dramatic success for alumni from even just the past two years with many receiving important grants, awards, residencies and commissions," says Parkes.
"Connie Augoustinos (Ceramics 2017) and Jake Rollins (Furniture 2017) have already had works acquired by the Art Gallery of South Australia and Ebony Heidenreich (Ceramics 2018) has had work picked up by the National Gallery of Victoria."
Applications are now open for JamFactory’s 2020 Associate Program.
All enquiries and applications must be submitted to Kelli Strugnell, Executive Assistant kelli.strugnell@jamfactory.com.au by 31 August 2019.
See also www.jamfactory.com.au