About Us

We love craft and design

Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre is a not-for-profit membership based organisation which supports artists, craft practitioners, designers and makers at every stage of their careers. We promote and celebrate excellence and innovation in contemporary craft in everything we do – in our retail space, exhibition gallery, membership program, events and throughout our annual DESIGN Canberra festival. Read about the history of Craft ACT. 

 

Meet the team

Dr Rachael Coghlan - CEO + Artistic Director

Rachael is the CEO/Artistic Director of Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre and the Artistic Director of DESIGN Canberra festival (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019). She gained her PhD from the Australian National University, and for 20 years she has worked in leadership roles in national cultural institutions and arts organisations. Rachael brings to her role a vibrant national and international network of museum and creative practitioners and researchers, together with extensive experience in program management of large and complex projects; innovative curatorial research and interpretation; successful commercial partnerships; excellence in multidisciplinary collaboration; and advanced analytical and problem-solving..

Kate Nixon - Programs Director

Kate oversees the successful delivery and evaluation of Craft ACT's public programs including our major annual outreach program, the DESIGN Canberra Festival. In addition to her DESIGN Canberra duties, Kate is also an emerging glass artist, an active member of the local and national glass community and current President of Ausglass, the Australian Association for Glass Artists.

designcanberra@craftact.org.au

Madisyn Zabel - Gallery Manager

Madisyn supports craft and design practitioners to execute professional exhibitions with a strong curatorial narrative in the light filled gallery at Craft ACT and also in off site spaces in the DESIGN Canberra festival. She also looks after Craft ACT's shop. Madisyn Zabel is an emerging glass artist who has been the recipient of awards including Warm Glass UK’s The Glass Prize Bullseye Glass Artists Category and the Jutta Cuny-Franz Foundation (Museum Kunstpalast in Düsseldorf) Talent Award. 

gallery@craftact.org.au

Meagan Jones - Membership + Communications Manager

Meagan administers Craft ACT’s membership program which helps us to support artists, crafts practitioners, designers and makers at every stage of their careers. As well as providing members with opportunities, such as via the artist-in-residence program, Ready Set Market and through DESIGN Canberra festival events. Meagan also helps to develop, implement and report on marketing operations. As well as coordinating digital and social media content. Meagan graduated in 2016 with a Master of Arts and Cultural Management.  

Meagan.Jones@craftact.org.au