News
Advancing the art of tapestry in Australia
Janet Calvert-Jones made Emeritus Trustee
NOVEMBER 2023
After twenty-two years as Trustee of the Tapestry Foundation of Australia Janet has decided to step down. Janet started with the Foundation as an alternate Trustee for her mother and on Dame Elisabeth’s retirement Janet became a full Trustee in 2003. Four years later in 2007 Janet became Chair of Trustees and continued in that role until 2023. Chairman David Pitt thanked Janet for her ‘wisdom, leadership, support and dedication, and most of all, steering the Foundation for such a long period of time’. The Trustees unanimously asked Janet if she would continue as Emeritus Trustee to which she graciously accepted.
OCTOBER 2023
Tapestry Foundation Australia donates
a tapestry to the NGV
In 2010 a fifth tapestry, also designed by Roger Kemp, was woven to compliment the set of four commissioned by Dame Elizabeth Murdoch to decorate the Great Hall of the NGV. This tapestry was funded by Bailieu Myer through the Foundation and remained in its possession but on loan to the NGV.
Slightly slimmer than the original group it was woven to go above the exit door and to sit centrally between the other tapestries. Following the refurbishments at the NGV and the expansion of the exit door into wide doorway into the rear garden the tapestry went into storage. As part of a rationalisation of its holdings the Foundation decided to offer this tapestry to the NGV for its permanent collection and they graciously accepted the offer. It now resides ensuite with the four earlier works.
JULY 2023
Tapestry Foundation Australia donates
Deidrick Bracken’s work to NGV
To enable its presence in the NGV Triennial the Foundation agreed to acquire Diedrick Bracken’s Marrow becomes breath, a woven hanging on the theme of slavery. Brackens (b.1989, Texas, USA), a young Black American, expresses himself thus ‘I think of the process of handweaving cotton as a small way to pay tribute to those who came before me and worked with the material under very different circumstances.’
MARCH 2023
Tapestry Foundation Australia donates to the
NGV Summer Appeal
The Foundation donated funds to the NGV Summer Appeal to assist with the purchased of Mountain Climbers (2023) by Australian artist Troy Emery. Emery’s work as a sculptor using brightly-coloured textiles as his medium prompted NGV Director Tony Ellwood to describe Mountain Climber as a ‘highlight of the exhibition Melbourne Now’.
‘Short Black Opera’ uses Tapestry Foundation Australia commissioned tapestries as inspiration for her songs
NOVEMBER 2022
The latest project from Short Black Opera celebrates multi-dimensional works from an ancient culture. Deborah Cheetham AO, Yorta Yorta woman, soprano, composer and educator has been a leader and pioneer in the Australian arts landscape for more than 25 years.
Returning to Elisabeth Murdoch Hall for the second time on 2 November 2022, Cheetham presents Woven Song, a contemporary chamber series inspired by the Australian Tapestry Workshop Embassy Tapestries commissioned by the Tapestry Foundation Australia.
The Embassy Tapestries are a vibrant collaboration between Indigenous artists and the master weavers at the Australian Tapestry Workshop that places large-scale hand-woven tapestries on loan to selected overseas Australian Diplomatic Missions.
Through this important project, Cheetham gives voice to the material works, engaging in the telling of First Nations stories. Woven Song is a unique collaboration across cultures and art forms, building international creative communities.
SEPTEMBER 2022
Tapestry Foundation Australia renews grant for ‘Threads for the Future’ program
The Trustees of the Tapestry Foundation Australia have continued their support of the ‘Threads for the Future’ program with another grant covering the 2022/23 financial year. The Tapestry Foundation Australia continues to be impressed with the success of this innovative program.
FEBRUARY 2022
Tapestry Foundation Australia purchases NAB commissioned tapestries
The Tapestry Foundation Australia was the successful purchaser of eight tapestries commissioned between 1976 and 1986 by the National Australia Bank. In a move to rearrange their investments a large portion of the NAB art collection was put up for sale in February 2022. This included tapestries, both woven at the Australian Tapestry Workshop and overseas, that had all been designed by Australian artists.
SEPTEMBER 2021
‘Threads for the Future’ program at the Australian Tapestry Workshop
Through the 'Threads for the Future' program – generously supported by the Tapestry Foundation of Australia – we have been building our creative capacity by attracting talented weavers to the Australian Tapestry Workshop.
Tapestry Foundation commissions a tapestry for the new Footscray Hospital
APRIL 2024
The Tapestry Foundation of Australia has commissioned a tapestry for the New Footscray Hospital. Designed jointly by Indigenous artists Maree Clark and Mitch Mahoney the 10-meter-long tapestry by 4.2 metres high occupies a space across two floors of the hospital foyer. Titled Welcome to Country – now you see me: seeing the invisible, the tapestry will be woven in two halves and will occupy the looms of the Australian Tapestry Workshop for almost a year. This tapestry is being jointly funded by the Tapestry Foundation of Australia, The State Government of Victoria and the Australian Hotels Association. It is the second of the Premiers Suite series of tapestries for major public hospitals in Victoria.
