All four episodes of Craft Expertise: The View from Australia are now live for you to download and listen to. The interviews took place during my research visit to Adelaide and Melbourne in November and December 2022. A huge thanks to all of the interviewees for your time and generosity.
Featured picture: inside the Jam Factory, Adelaide
Episode 1 – Prof Susan Luckman
I talk to Susan Luckman, who is Professor of Cultural and Creative Industries at the University of South Australia. Susan talks about issues of diversity and inclusion in the Australian professional craft sector, and key areas for further research.
Episode 2 – Sahr Bashir
I speak to Sahr Bashir, a craft practitioner and researcher based in Adelaide. She is currently studying her PhD at the University of South Australia. . In this episode Sahr will talk about her experiences in the craft sector in her home town, Lahore in Pakistan, and her experience in Australia and particularly in Adelaide. She talks about the influence of place on her making, and the aesthetics of what she did, and the impact on her own identity as a maker.
Episode 3 – Dewi Cooke
I talk to Dewi Cooke, who is the CEO of The Social Studio in Melbourne. The Social Studio is a social enterprise which was founded in 2009 by a group of community members, local designers and fashion industry professionals, who joined together with a common idea: to embrace up-cycled fashion as a vehicle for social change and uplift youth from migrant and refugee backgrounds. The Social Studio have grown from a small enterprise to having a shop and an accredited course in textile manufacturing. Dewi talks about how The Social Studio adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic, how they foster a sense of inclusion in their space, and their future ambitions.
Episode 4 – Brian Parkes
I speak to Brian Parkes, CEO of Jam Factory, a craft social enterprise in Adelaide. This interview took place online, and is a follow up to my visit to the Jam Factory in Adelaide. Brian talks about the history and ethos of the Jam Factory, which celebrated its 50th birthday in 2023.