Afternoon Tea in support of artisan’s 55th Anniversary Celebrations

Consul-General of Japan in Queensland, Mr Katsutoshi Ishikawa and Mrs Mayumi Ishikawa; Chair, artisan, Ms Angela Spillane, Board Members, and your leadership team and staff in attendance; Partnerships and Investment Director, Arts Queensland, Ms Fiona Forrest; the many distinguished guests and supporters also present; ladies and gentlemen. 

I begin by acknowledging the Original Custodians of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbal and Jagera people, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to all First Nations people here this afternoon. 

It is indeed an honour, as your Patron, to be hosting this Afternoon Tea in support of artisan’s 55th Anniversary Celebrations. 

What an incredible journey it has been since Craft Queensland first began championing craft practice across the state 55 years ago. 

Of course, there has been much growth and many developments since those initial days, including a change in name and a broadening of representation.  

The core of what you do, though, has remained true to the artisans with whom you work–– and that is to advocate for the value of making. 

Artisan enables the connections that makers seek, for craft and design not only express an individual’s identity through their chosen medium, but also share that personal and cultural story with a wider audience. Through this sharing, lives are enriched and meaning is created. 

Artisan’s current goals stay true to its founding philosophy: to build a thriving ecosystem in which makers can access professional opportunities, connect with peers, and reach new markets.  

Looking ahead, the focus sharpens on deepening relationships and growing revenue through a cultural infrastructure built on a dynamic hub-and-spoke model of service delivery. Together, these goals position artisan for strong market growth, while ensuring makers are continually supported, developed, and celebrated. 

I am also delighted to host a rotating display of curated artworks by Queensland artisans in the formal entranceway to Government House, refreshed two to three times a year to showcase new pieces. 

Queensland is a growth state in so many ways, and one of the most fundamental ways in which individuals and groups document that growth is through the crafts and designs that they create and pass on to future generations.  

And so, it is gratifying to see the contribution of artisan to this legacy, and to the heightened reputation of Queensland in the arts on the international stage.  

There is much to celebrate on this anniversary, not least artisan’s important role in elevating Queensland’s First Nations craft and design practitioners. Coupled with a diverse program of workshops, exhibitions, and events—accessible to a broad spectrum of Australian makers—this work contributes to the ongoing growth of the craft and design sector in our state and beyond. 

By nurturing, representing, and connecting Queensland’s makers—emerging, developing, and established—artisan plays a central role in raising the profile of craft and design locally, nationally, and globally.  

I offer my ongoing support, and that of all Queenslanders, for artisan’s continued success. 

Congratulations and here’s to the next incredible 55 years!