Australian Design Centre – base funding to be withdrawn
Australian Design Centre shopfront, Darlinghurst, NSW. Photo: Amy Piddington
19 July, 2025: Australian Design Centre (ADC) announced that 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’, ADC’s announcements states, ‘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.’
‘ADC has been remarkable in this regard for decades, and most recently since 2016 under the leadership of Executive Director Lisa Cahill (CEO and Artistic Director). Lisa and the ADC team have forged strong and pivotal partnerships and connected thousands of artists with audiences and market development opportunities across multiple platforms.
‘While government core operational funding has declined in real terms since 2015, ADC has successfully secured more than $5 million in project grants, philanthropy and earned income underpinning this extensive activity and contribution to Australian cultural life.
‘All programs, including all exhibitions and the Sydney Craft Week Festival, will continue as planned in 2025 and current tours will operate as planned beyond that date.
The ADC Board invites proposals for financial support, acquisition and/or collaboration and will consider all proposals submitted in confidence by 15 August 2025 to the Executive Director (CEO and Artistic Director) Lisa Cahill on (02) 93614555 or lisa@australiandesigncentre.com.