The Australian Design Centre Board has resolved to cease operations by 30 June 2026 unless alternative funding is found before that time.

With the Federal Government (through Creative Australia) and the State Government (through Create NSW) discontinuing adequate core operational funding from 2025/6, the ADC Board determined it would not be viable financially for the organisation to continue to trade/operate beyond 30 June 2026.

Create NSW has recently awarded ADC $150,000 per year for the next two years; this is $350,000 short of the minimum $500,000 amount that ADC needs to continue operating.

This means that from 2026 ADC will no longer have the minimum $500,000 in base level funding needed to support annual operations.

This decision means:

• ADC opportunities created for close to 1000 artists annually will no longer be available.
• Up to 350,000 people who visit an ADC exhibition annually will no longer have this opportunity to engage with craft and design practice.
• Exhibition programming at ADC in Sydney will cease at the end of February 2026.
• Object Shop will cease trading at the end of March 2026.
• ADC On Tour exhibitions will continue as scheduled with any future changes announced before June 2026.
• The future of the Sydney Craft Week Festival in 2026 will be determined before applications are due to open in April 2026.

"The Australian Design Centre's committed volunteer Board has considered all other options and is deeply saddened to have been forced to make this decision. 

Australian Design Centre has supported the work of thousands of artists over its 61 year history as an independent not for profit organisation.

The reality is that, without core operational support to pay staff and cover administrative costs, we have no other choice but to cease operations by 30 June.

This means that NSW will be the only state or territory in Australia without an organisation dedicated to craft and design practice." said Elizabeth Espinosa, Chair ADC Board 

The ADC Board is made up of volunteers covering various professional backgrounds and includes the CEO as Executive Director.

Any questions about this decision or the timeline should be directed to the ADC Executive Director (CEO and Artistic Director) Lisa Cahill on (02) 93614555 or lisa@australiandesigncentre.com.

Save ADC

A minimum of $350,000 per annum for the next two years is needed from government, corporate or private sources for ADC to continue operating in 2026 and 2027.

If you, or anyone you know, can help please contact Lisa Cahill on (02) 93614555 or lisa@australiandesigncentre.com.

Rationale

Australian Design Centre is an integral part of the arts ecology in Australia. This small, dynamic, independent organisation has nurtured and supported thousands of artists since 1964, presenting their work locally, nationally and internationally across extensive exhibition, touring, retail, publishing and digital platforms.

ADC continues to be a highly successful organisation in the arts ecology despite reduced government budget commitments to the arts over the past decade and these disappointing recent decisions by government to prioritise different activities.

As an independent organisation ADC has operated on a tenuous financial footing for too long. Operating under incredible pressure to perform with inadequate resources, an organisation can only push well above its weight for so long.

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, long-term partnerships with individuals, galleries and organisations around Australia and overseas and connected thousands of artists with audiences and provided market development opportunities across multiple platforms.

In June this year ADC announced the difficult news that both Federal and State governments, through Creative Australia and Create NSW, chose not to support Australian Design Centre with four-year operational funding which ADC has received for decades.

This means that from 2026 ADC will no longer have the minimum $500,000 in base level funding needed to support annual operations.

Despite ADC being recommended by peers for funding, 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 key government funded organisation dedicated to craft and design practice.

For a decade, since 2016, we have operated with $500,000 state/federal government operational funding per annum. Increasing costs have effectively eroded this base funding level year on year with no increase and, at the state level, no indexation.

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.

Create NSW has recently awarded ADC $150,000 per year for the next two years; this is $350,000 short of the minimum $500,000 amount that ADC needs to continue operating.

Over the past four months ADC has:

• Raised $61,000 in direct donations from generous people (many of whom are artists) who support ADC. This is in addition to the $50,000 raised in May to support our matched funding campaign.
• Held meetings with Create NSW, Creative Australia, the advisor to the NSW Minister for the Arts, the advisor to the Federal Parliamentary Secretary to the Federal Minister for the Arts, local state and federal members Alex Greenwich MLA and Allegra Spender MP, and with the City of Sydney.
• Seen many supporters write to Government in support ADC and in shock at the state and federal government decisions. We are so grateful for everyone's efforts on our behalf.
• Given multiple media interviews about this matter which has resulted in significant media attention and social media coverage.

While we have been focussed on this advocacy activity, we have also delivered a remarkable program of exhibitions and events in Sydney and across Australia including these highlights:

• Launching Helen Britton as the 10th Living Treasure: Master of Australian Craft in this long running series. Alongside the exhibition ADC has also published a major book, The Story So Far; organised a two-year tour of the exhibition around Australia in 2026-27, starting in Helen's home town of Newcastle; organised a fundraiser screening of the feature-length documentary about Helen; and produced a podcast interview, education kit and audio exhibition tour. The show has attracted great media interest including excellent reviews.
• Launching the second MAKE Award: Biennial Prize for Innovation in Australian Craft and Design with an exhibition of 36 finalists. The winner of the $35,000 first prize was NSW based Cinnamon Lee and second prize of $10,000 went to Adelaide based Jake Rollins and honourable mention to Roseanne Bartley from Victoria. The exhibition continues until 19 November and then tours to Adelaide.
• Producing the highly successful 9th annual Sydney Craft Week Festival with more than 240 events across 37 suburbs and beyond featuring more than 600 artists.
• Launching ADC On Tour exhibitions with our partners in Geelong and Toowoomba in the past two months alone with upcoming exhibitions in Tweed, Grafton and Adelaide.

Continued Advocacy

To voice your concerns about the closure of Australian Design Centre, we invite you to write directly to:

NSW Government

The Hon John Graham MLC
Minister for the Arts (NSW)
office@graham.minister.nsw.gov.au

Australian Government

The Hon Tony Burke MP
Minister for the Arts (Australia)
Tony.Burke.MP@aph.gov.au

If you write to the above, we suggest that you also cc lisa@australiandesigncentre.com so that we can collate your statements.

Thank you

From all of us at Australian Design Centre, thank you to all members of the creative community (artists and organisations), partners, donors and supporters and visitors who have continued to support ADC through this difficult time.