Craft ACT

Project Profile

Issues

The Gudgenby Ready-Cut Cottage Residency pilot project is a unique partnership between Craft ACT and Namadgi National Park. The project encourages community engagement through exhibitions and events which draw attention to landscapes both environmentally and historically highlighting the important heritage and natural environment of Namadgi National Park.

Project Detail

Craft ACT has been nominated for a National Landcare Award for creating stronger links between the environment, heritage and the arts through the Gudgenby Ready-Cut Cottage Residency pilot project.

The Gudgenby Ready-Cut Cottage Residency pilot project is a unique partnership between Craft ACT and Namadgi National Park. The project encourages community engagement through exhibitions and events which draw attention to landscapes both environmentally and historically highlighting the important heritage and natural environment of Namadgi National Park.

In 2005, artist Paul McKee approached Craft ACT to develop a project interpreting the role and cultural importance of the environment and heritage of historic high country huts in Namadgi National Park. With a vision of using art to create a dialogue to encourage innovative ways of thinking about our natural environment, the first project ‘Memories in Place; art in high country huts’ was met with great enthusiasm and evoked strong community demand for more activities combining art and nature.

In 2009, the Gudgenby Ready-Cut Cottage Residency pilot project was established. With funding assistance from the Natural Resource Management Council, artists Paull McKee and Kirstie Rea undertook a five week artist-in-residence course in the Gudgenby Ready-Cut Cottage with Canberra residents invited to visit the park and the cottage and to view the work of the artists. A catalogue titled ‘artists in place’ was also created to capture the pilot project activities.

Craft ACT with the support of Namadgi National Park hosted a public open day during the residency period with 120 members of the community participating. Students from Weetangera Primary School also visited the cottage.

The project assisted in creating stronger links between the environment, heritage and the arts providing the community with an opportunity to discover the Canberra region’s cultural and natural history and built awareness of the landscape as one of significance to the city and people of Canberra.

Today, an increasing number of art activities are focusing on our environment, looking closely at the relationship between culture and nature.

Craft ACT is one of 88 finalists in the National Landcare Awards to be announced in Canberra on 24 June 2010. Commencing in 1991, the Awards celebrate the achievements of individuals and groups that make a valuable contribution to the land and coast where they live and work.

Photography

Craft ACT