artisan Qld launches inaugural symposium, MADE 2026

Craft Queensland was established in 1970 to champion craft practices across the state and expanding in 2007 to include designers of objects, furniture and lighting. In 2007, as 'a creative social enterprise’, the organisation rebranded as ‘artisan’.

At the start of the year artisan moved to its new home in Brisbane’s cultural precinct at the Library Shop in Stanley Place, South Brisbane. artisan’s 2026 program offers exhibitions, mentoring opportunities, a makers' club and on Thursday 10 September, the organisation will hold its inaugural annual symposium. This one-day event is being held at artisan’s new base at the State Library of Queensland is directed towards practitioners, curators, students and industry leaders. Seats are limited to 230 with tickets offered for $235 – $285.

The program includes:

• Keynote conversation: Sally Brand, Curatorial Manager, Australian Art at QAGOMA, on objects, collections and cultural identity.
• A Nation of Makers: a plenary panel bringing together Brian Parkes (JamFactory), Travis Tiddy (Design Tasmania) and Aimee Frodsham (Canberra Glassworks) alongside Carmel Haugh (artisan), looking at the strengths and challenges of the sector across Australia.
• Breakout sessions across the day, exploring ideas and issues to shape an action plan for growing the sector, with the 2032 Brisbane Games as a catalyst, not the destination.

Prior to that on 1 August, UNLEASHED+ will open at Home of the Arts (HOTA), Gold Coast. This is artisan’s biennial exhibition which offers exposure to 12 emerging Queensland makers.

Learn more about artisan’s 2026 program at https://artisan.org.au/