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AUSTRALIAN DESIGNERS ON THE WAY TO COMMERCIAL SUCCESS

The Australia Council for the Arts has awarded $120,000 to designers to take their artistic works to commercial markets.

The Australia Council for the Arts today announced the four recipients of its 2007 Maker to Manufacturer to Market (MMM) initiative.

Individual grants of $30,000 have been given to four Australian designers and craftspeople to foster the development of successful models of industry practice in the contemporary design sector. Each recipient will use the grant to create a prototype and manufacture their work for a range of commercial markets.

This year’s program – the third since its inception – targets close collaboration between the designer, the manufacturer and the product distributor. The objects selected demonstrate a high level of teamwork and the use of inventive, new materials.

The 2007 MMM grant recipients are:

  • Sydney designer Caroline Casey who will manufacture her Featherlight dining table range with manufacturer Jeffrey Broadfield
  • Western Australian furniture designer Jon Goulder who will manufacture his Calypso chaise lounge with retailer Living Edge
  • Brisbane designer Alexander Lotersztain, in collaboration with Planex, an Australian manufacturer of quality commercial office storage, security and storage in steel, will develop the X-System modular shelves system
  • Victorian Designer Nick Rennie will use his grant to manufacture his Twist wire bowl.

Australia Council for the Arts chief executive officer Kathy Keele said, ‘The ingenuity and creativity of the design teams are remarkable; it is encouraging to see Australian designers forging strong, sustainable ties with the manufacturing sector. Through partnerships like these, Australian craft and design will continue to impress with its unique style, vitality and innovation.’

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