IMPACT SUMMARY
INDIANOCEANCRAFTTRIENNIAL.COM
SEPTEMBER – NOVEMBER 2021
As the first event of its kind, the Indian Ocean Craft Triennial or IOTA* (as it became known) was remarkable in its grass roots derivation and organic growth. This was an incredible feat during a global pandemic. Focussing on excellence it consciously sought to collaborate with craftspeople and artists from around the Indian Ocean rim, to engage the local WA sector, and to tell important stories of our times through the medium of contemporary craft.
The Visitor Survey reported that 100% of respondents support the continuation of IOTA and feel it is important to have an event like IOTA here in WA. Respondents positively rated 9/10 to the statements: • ‘I learnt about other cultures than my own’, • ‘I felt more connected to and included in my community’ • ‘It was engaging and inspiring’.
INDIAN OCEAN CRAFT TRIENNIAL
INDIAN OCEAN CRAFT TRIENNIAL
* IOTA = Indian Ocean Triennial Australia
“AUSTRALIA LOOKS TO THE WESTERN TRADITION OF ARTS; THEREFORE, THIS TRIENNIAL WAS CRUCIAL IN FOCUSING ON INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES OF OUR GEOPOLITICAL REGIONS AND ESTABLISHING OUR ARTISTIC IDENTITY IN OUR ACTUAL GEOGRAPHIC REGION.” – Survey Response left Nalda Searles Portrait, 2021. Photo: Rebecca Mansell. cover Mikaela Castledine Portrait, 2021. Photo: Steve May.
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Curiosity & Rituals of the Everyday The international exhibition at the heart of IOTA21 was curated by Jude van der Merwe, Maggie Baxter and Carola Akindele-Obe and presented in partnership with Fremantle Arts Centre (FAC) and John Curtin Gallery (JCG).
The exhibition was supported and extended by a 144-page full colour catalogue featuring contextual essays by writers from Australia, India, and Africa, with double page spreads for each of the exhibiting artists or artist groups.
The thirty-five selected artists from India, Kenya, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, and Australia, presented works on a grand scale, many of which were newly created for IOTA21 and involved collaborations with a further ~250 artisans.
The co-curators conducted personalised tours for students, teachers, specialist groups. Individual artists gave talks online and in-person and delivered workshops. Numerous other activities included: Fremantle Arts Centre’s open invitation to come and make your chosen craft in a convivial setting with guest makers at their Crafternoons, and John Curtin Gallery’s specialist lunch lecture series.
The exhibition was extremely well received by the general public and by the media attracting approximately 5,000 visitors to JCG and 15,000 visitors to FAC.
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144
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MAJOR EXHIBITION VENUES
20,000+ VISITORS
Andile Dyalvane Photo: Justin Patrick. Represented by Southern Guild. Cape Town, South Africa.
EXHIBITION TOURS
LEADING ARTISTS
ARTIST TALKS
INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
PAGE FULL COLOUR CATALOGUE
WORKSHOPS
Artists: Melissa Cameron (Australia), Kirit Dave (India), Sunny Dolat (Kenya), Andile Dyalvane (South Africa), Sharyn Egan (Australia), Sarah Elson (Australia), Audrey Fernandes-Satar & Arif Satar (Australia), Pierre Fouché (South Africa), Jan Griffiths (Australia), Gaurav Jai Gupta (India), Kaaru: Sanjib Chatterjee and Anjalee Wakankar (India), Cyrus Kabiru (Kenya), Ishan Khosla (India), Shakuntala Kulkarni (India), Desmond Lazaro (Australia), Jason Lim (Singapore), Anniketyni Madian (Malaysia), Athi-Patra Ruga (South Africa), Darrell Sibosado & DJ Kyle (Australia), Garry Sibosado (Australia), Uday Singh (India), Jakkai Siributr (Thailand), Wuthigrai Siriphon (Thailand), Madhvi Subrahmanian (India), Tjanpi Desert Weavers: Judith Yinyika Chambers & Nancy Nyanyana Jackson ( Australia), Thania Petersen (South Africa), Zizipho Poswa (South Africa), Monique Tippett (Australia), Susie Vickery (Australia), Liz Williamson (Australia), Yee I-Lann (Malaysia)
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The Western Australian craft community actively responded to the IOTA21 theme of ‘Curiosity & Rituals of the Everyday’, delivering an unprecedented state-wide festival of craft-centred exhibitions, workshops, demonstrations and talks. It is estimated that these activities attracted more than ~120,000 visits with over ~1000 people attending workshops and talks.
The 5,000 printed festival guides were distributed widely and were in demand, whilst the online guide and social media kept visitors abreast of what was on, when and where. The IOTA21 festival was supported by Lotterywest through auspice partner Mundaring Arts Centre Inc.
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41+
265+
31
45
50
1,000+
200+
EXHIBITIONS
120,000+
IOTA21 FESTIVAL
IOTA21 FESTIVAL
CRAFT GROUPS
TOTAL VISITORS TO IOTA21 EXHIBITIONS
left Visitors enjoying installation ‘Curious Five Go Surfing’ by Susie Vickery at Fremantle Arts Centre. Photo: Christophe Canato.
VENUES ACROSS WESTERN AUSTRALIA
EXHIBITIONS/ EVENTS
WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS
INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS
WORKSHOPS AND TALKS
VOLUNTEERS 5
FESTIVAL VENUES & GROUPS
FESTIVAL VENUES & GROUPS Community Craft Groups Art Allsorts Australind Art Club Bunbury Felters Bunbury Hand & Machine Knitters Bunbury Hand Embroidery Bunbury Patchwork & Quilting Group Bunbury Studio Potters Bunbury Weavers Bunbury Webster Spinners Carnamah Historical Society & Museum Contemporary 84 Creative Textiles Dalyellup Art Group Embroiderers’ Guild of WA Ernabella Arts Fabric & Thread Jewellers & Metalsmiths Group of WA Mangkaja Artists Maningrida Arts Maylands Meccano Club Minyma Kutjara Arts Project Nippy Mosaics OzQuilt Network Perth Studio Potters Spinifex Hill Studio The Hermannsburg Potters Group Utopia Artists WA Fibre & Textiles Group Warburton Story Wire artists West Australian Quilters Association Yindjibarndi Weavers Perth Central Venues Art Collective WA Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGWA) Gallery Central, North Metro TAFE Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA) There Is! WA Museum Boola Bardip Yorkas Nyinning Gallery
Perth Greater Venues Artitja @Earlywork Ellenbrook Arts HQ Fremantle Arts Centre Gallery East @Earlywork Goolugatup Heathcote Holmes à Court Gallery @ No10 John Curtin Gallery Kidogo Arthouse Fremantle Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery Midland Junction Arts Centre Mossenson Galleries Mundaring Arts Centre Nyisztor Studio Perth Studio Potters & Burt Street Gallery Spare Parts Puppet Theatre Stala Contemporary WA Maritime Museum Wanneroo Gallery Wireless Hill Museum South West Venues Alcoa Mandurah Art Gallery (MPAC) Bunbury Museum and Heritage Centre Bunbury Regional Art Gallery City of Kwinana Contemporary Art Space Mandurah (CASM) Holmes à Court Gallery @ Vasse Felix Lost Eden Creative Stirling Street Arts Centre Great Southern Venues Albany Town Hall Gallery Painted Tree Gallery Peter Kovacsy Studio Wheatbelt Venues York Festival Midwest Venues Geraldton Regional Art Gallery Pilbara Venues Port Hedland Courthouse Gallery+Studio
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The multi-cultural opening celebration presented by Fremantle Arts Centre on 17 September 2021 attracted 1055 people from 93 WA postcodes (11 of them had not visited the Centre before). The cultural groups representing traditional and contemporary music, dance, and rituals from around the Indian Ocean who performed on the night included:
OPENING EVENT
OPENING EVENT
Barry & Tjiirdm McGuire – Welcome to Country. Sraraswati Mahadavidhyalaya – traditional Kathak dancing. Nora Oliver – Malay welcome drink. Pastor Elijah and Gideon’s Youth Choir. Aud Saowarak – traditional Thai dance. Selvarajah Marimuthu and the Tamil drummers, Tamil Association. Tracey Omollo – African Dance. Joromi Mondlane & Kwachala – contemporary Mozambiquan music. DJs Nzech and Stevie M.
1000+
GUESTS AT OPENING CELEBRATION
left Aud Saowarak Traditional Thai dancer. Photo: Pixel Poetry
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POSTCODES
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CONFERENCE
FASHION EVENT
CONFERENCE ‘Futuring Craft’ conference at the WA Maritime Museum and Curtin University on 17 & 18 September 2021 featured 26 academic and artist-led presentations and interactive discussions sharing ideas and innovations involving 46 presenters, online and in person, based in 12 countries: Canada, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Italy, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, UK and Australia: NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, WA.
139 delegates enjoyed the comprehensive and inspiring twoday program, in person with a further 49 watching online.
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CONFERENCE DELEGATES
top left NWS Shipping Theatre.
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FASHION EVENT
top right Fashion by péro. Both photos: Christophe Canato.
The Conference was convened by Dr Qassim Saad and coordinated by Gerald Sanyangore.
‘Curiosity & The Cloth’ fashion event at WA Museum Boola Bardip on Sunday 19 September 2021 showcased 14 designers from Kenya, India, Malaysia, and Thailand alongside First Nations’ designers from Western Australia & Northern Territory.
The conference and fashion event were presented in partnership with Curtin University’s Department of the Built Environment, supported by WA Museum, and the Australian Government through the Office for the Arts and the Australian Cultural Diplomacy Grants Program.
The fashion event was curated by Maggie Baxter and Dr Anne Farren. Watch the highlight videos at www.indianoceancrafttriennial.com/ fashion
Access the proceedings and video recordings at www.indianoceancrafttriennial.com/ conference
CONFERENCE PRESENTERS FROM 12 COUNTRIES
215 people enjoyed the sellout show, which also actively involved 35 models, 20 interns and volunteers, 10 makeup artists and 4 coordinators.
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FASHION DESIGNERS FROM 5 COUNTRIES
215
GUESTS AT FASHION EVENT
The IOTA21 website presents the full program of activities. Here you can find details of the international and Australian artists, festival exhibitions and events, links to videos of conference presentations, the fashion event, selected media coverage and download the conference proceedings, as well as preview and purchase the catalogue. 11
MEDIA & MARKETING
162,473 14,000 94,530
MEDIA & MARKETING
MEDIA & MARKETING
167,561
WEBSITE VISITS.
AUDIENCE - ABC TV ‘ART WORKS’, EPISODE 26.
1,277,000
USERS OF WHICH 11,000 WERE ORGANIC.
75
409,000
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670,000 150,000
TOTAL REACH ACROSS INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK.
REGIONAL SPECIFIC STORIES.
TOP COUNTRIES: AUSTRALIA, INDIA, MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE, SOUTH AFRICA, THAILAND, USA AND UK.
290
1,709
34,761 83%
180,000
579
733
59,769 75%
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POSTS.
LIKES.
FOLLOWERS.
FOLLOWERS.
1,200 38 12
SIGNIFICANT MEDIA MENTIONS.
VIEWS.
SHORT FILMS.
REACH.
REACH.
WOMEN.
WOMEN.
HAVE-A-GO NEWS READERSHIP. COVER STORY + ARTICLE.
COMBINED LISTENERS FOR 12 LOCAL RADIO INTERVIEWS.
THE WEST AUSTRALIAN READERSHIP. 5 ARTICLES DISTRIBUTED TO 12 REGIONAL NETWORKS.
THE WEST AUSTRALIAN - PLAY MAGAZINE READERSHIP. COVER STORY + 4-PAGE SPREAD.
BUSINESS NEWS READERSHIP. ARTICLE.
STORIES IN ARTS SPECIFIC MEDIA. Fremantle Arts Centre. Photo: Christophe Canato.
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MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
FROM CERAMIC COWS TO KAAVAD-INSPIRED ART, THESE DESIGNERS ARE KEEPING INDIAN TRADITIONS ALIVE FIRST POST: 06 NOVEMBER 2021 Shailaja Tripathi spoke to a few of the seminal Indian artists and designers about their work on show at IOTA21. READ ARTICLE
EXHIBITION REVIEW: INDIAN OCEAN CRAFT TRIENNIAL (4 STARS) MIRANDA JOHNSON, ARTSHUB: 04 OCTOBER 2021
ART OF CRAFT ON SHOW AT INDIAN OCEAN TRIENNIAL JO PICKUP, ARTS HUB: 24 SEPTEMBER 2021
FESTIVALS PUT CRAFT ON THE HORIZON SHERIDAN HART, ART GUIDE AUSTRALIA, 3 SEPTEMBER 2021
...the exhibition is impressive in terms of scale and the diversity of works presented... Noticeable are the multiple works made through forms of collaborative practice or intergenerational learning and knowledge...
A stunning array of craftbased artists reflect on the medium’s power to penetrate the contemporary art world.
IOTA21 goes well beyond the idea of the global citizen (which can seem arbitrary or abstract) and offers this very natural way to bring people together across the water.
MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
READ ARTICLE READ ARTICLE
READ ARTICLE CORNUCOPIA OF CRAFT SURPRISES AND DELIGHTS CRAIG MCKEOUGH, SEESAW MAGAZINE: 05 OCTOBER 2021 Ambitious and diverse, Fremantle Arts Centre’s instalment of ‘IOTA21: Curiosity and Rituals of the Everyday’ is a seamless continuation of the celebration of contemporary craft that began at John Curtin Gallery.
IOTA21: CURIOSITY & RITUALS OF THE EVERYDAY CHRISTINA CHAU, THE REVIEW BOARD: 30 SEPTEMBER 2021 Given the high calibre and variety of practices showcased throughout the Triennial, it’s about time that we came together to celebrate contemporary craft.
CELEBRATION OF CRAFT IS A STUNNER CRAIG MCKEOUGH, SEESAW MAGAZINE: 22 SEPTEMBER 2021 The first of the Indian Ocean Craft Triennial’s centrepiece exhibitions weaves together the disparate cultures of the Indian Ocean rim in ways that Craig McKeough finds profound.
WA’S FIRST INDIAN OCEAN CRAFT TRIENNIAL BURSTS INTO LIFE LYN DI CIERO, ARTIST’S CHRONICLE, SEPTEMBER 2021 Western Australia’s first ever craft triennial has hit the ground running... READ ARTICLE
READ ARTICLE
READ ARTICLE READ ARTICLE
MEET A FEW OF THE ARTISTS EXHIBITING AT THE INDIAN OCEAN CRAFT TRIENNIAL ABC TV: ART WORKS, EPISODE 26, 27 OCTOBER 2021 WATCH NOW
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THE BIGGEST CRAFT EXHIBITION TO HIT WA JAY HANNA, THE WEST AUSTRALIAN, PLAY MAGAZINE, 24 JULY 2021 Vickery collaborated with friends and artists in India and Nepal on the project. READ ARTICLE
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IOTA21 TEAM
Founding Partners Carola Akindele-Obe, Maggie Baxter, Gerald Sanyangore, Dr. Qassim Saad, Jude van der Merwe Jude van der Merwe Exhibition Curator & Project Leader Carola Akindele-Obe Exhibition Curator & Festival Coordinator Maggie Baxter Exhibition & Fashion Curator Dr Qassim Saad Curatorial Advisor & Conference Convenor (Senior Lecturer, Curtin University) Gerald Sanyangore Curatorial Advisor & Conference Coordinator Dr. Anne Farren Fashion Curator (Senior Lecturer, Curtin University) Chad Creighton Curatorial Advisor (CEO, AACHWA) Festival, Conference, Fashion, Marketing & Program Support Kelsey Douglas, Lola Faulkner, Jo Malone, Mary-Louise Carbone Jessica Priemus, Ciara McNally Jenny Haynes & Narelle Doran, Mundaring Arts Centre
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Design & Print Isabel Kruger (brand and catalogue), Orla Larkin (website), Christopher Young (graphic design), Advance Press, Scott, ImageSource Photography Christophe Canato, Pixel Poetry, Rebecca Mansell, and others as named Video Balthazar Media, Wendi Graham, and others as named Editors and Proof-readers Heli Donaldson, Kevin Murray Publicity Dixie Battersby Fremantle Arts Centre Anna Reece, Jim Cathcart and Ric Spencer (until December 2020), Erin Coates (until July 2021), Tom Freeman, Glenn Iseger-Pilkington and Jane Chambers (from May 2021), Claudia Rayne, Andrea Woods, Rosamund Brennan; Kathryn Taylor (City of Fremantle); and their incredible installation team. John Curtin Gallery Chris Malcolm, Jane King, Jann Thompson, Jacqui Monks, Samantha Smith, Sue-Lyn Moyle, Brad Coleman; and their incredible installation team.
IOTA21 would not have been possible without the support of government funding, in-kind sponsorships, philanthropic donations and generous volunteer hours: State Government Lotterywest; the State Government of Western Australia through the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries Australian Government Office for the Arts, Australian Cultural Diplomacy Grants Program, the Australia Council for the Arts, and the Australian ASEAN Council Exhibition Partners Fremantle Arts Centre and John Curtin Gallery Conference & Fashion Partners Curtin University’s School of Design and the Built Environment, WA Museum Boola Bardip, Business Events Perth and Regional Arts WA Cultural Partners CENDANA, Royal Thai Embassy Festival Partner Mundaring Arts Centre Project Partners Midland Brick, Gemstar/Manning & Co, Maker&Smith, Garland magazine, World Crafts Council – Australia, Artforms and Publik
IOTA21 Patrons & Donors Carola and Oye Akindele-Obe, Maggie Baxter, Patti Belletty, John Catlin, David and Mary Cliff, Heli Donaldson, Patti Ferber, Patrick and Linda Flockhart, Jenny Garroun, Lesley Ann Grimoldby, Richard Hamilton, Jenny Haynes, Janet Holmes à Court, Jim and Freda Irenic, Anna Kanaris, Artitja Fine Art, Jenny Kerr, Jane King, Orla Larkin, Margaret Lehmann, Shelagh Magadza, Lene and Nilesh Makwana, Malcolm McGregor, Kevin Murray, Anne Neil, Philip Noakes, Nien Schwarz, Sherri Staltari, Louise Tasker, Jimmy Thompson, Helen Turner, Jude van der Merwe, Sarah Whiteman, John Curtin Gallery, Western Australia Fibre and Textile Association.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
IOTA21 TEAM
Thank You… … to all the craft practitioners, artists and arts workers who generously gave time and expertise to help us navigate this inaugural triennial; these include but are not limited to: Neda Bahremand; Leigh Bassingthwaighte and Jean Butler (SMAC); Nathaniel Belcher (Curtin University); Ambica Beri (Art Ichol); John Brown-Neaves (Publik); Toni Clancy; Alice Cliff; Rebecca Cooper and Angus Gasson (DHL); Chad Creighton (Aboriginal Art Centre Hub WA); Matt Dickson, Alli Doherty and Aly May (DLGSC); Eric Coles, Jason Fair, Corioli Souter, Gill Harrison, Cass Wilson and the teams at WA Museum: Boola Bardip and Maritime; Sam Field; Walter Gomes; Wendi Graham; Soosie Jobson; Jo Mascaro; Trevyn McGowan and team: Lezanne van Heerden, Catherine Haefele, Sarah Dawson, Kelly Berman, Shana Trope (Southern Guild); Ashleigh McLean (What If The World); Mir Ng; Duncan Ord; Peter Orinuela (Grace Fine Art); Layli Rakhsha; Dierdre Robb; Emily Robertson; Deborah Sims; Carol Stevens (Artforms); Jay Weinstein; Mirna Wessels and Jessica van Rensburg (Spier Art Trust); Beverley Yong; Michelle Young (Tjanpi Desert Weavers).
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SAMPLE SURVEY RESPONSES
Australia looks to the western tradition of arts; therefore, this Triennial was crucial in focusing on indigenous communities of our geopolitical regions and establishing our artistic identity in our actual geographic region.
The IOTA21 program attracted Fremantle, Western Suburbs and regional visitors who had not visited [our gallery] before.
IOTA21 was a wonderful networking experience, and the breadth of the exhibition program was truly inspiring.
Representatives of art institutions and organisations came because of IOTA21 but wouldn’t have otherwise.
I think it is a really interesting festival that engages with important regions/neighbours to Perth. I liked the diversity of practices on display and thought the sheer number of exhibitions and events was ambitious but well delivered. I have been following a lot of WA artists over the years with great passion and I am even more surprised by the ones I’ve never heard of until IOTA21, many hiding in regional towns. I am really impressed by the diversity of our WA artists. It drew a lot of new people out to our gallery and helped a lot of local craftspeople think about their work in an art context.
We were able to engage more deeply with our CaLD audience.
FUNDING SUMMARY
IOTA21 Income
FUNDING SUMMARY
SAMPLE SURVEY RESPONSES
IOTA21 Expenditure
We attracted approx 50% new audiences. Phew! What an opening!!! Congratulations to the team behind Indian Ocean Craft Triennial’s opening tonight at Fremantle Arts Centre – it was just a little bit special!! Feeling blessed for the clear night, good vibes, wonderful peep and great art! Must go back to take more time to commune with all that art again! IOTA21 was amazing!! The most magical evening ever! I brought my 19-year-old daughter along and we were mesmerised from the moment we walked in the door.
IOTA21 Income Cash: grants & sponsorship Cash: IOTA21 artist grants Cash: sales commission & ticketing IOTA21 Patrons Donations IOTA21 Voluntary Team (in-kind)
$ 308,500 90,000 112,500 14,500 3,500 480,000
% 31 9 11 1 <1 48
1,009,000 IOTA21 Expenditure Artist Fees Freight Events: Conference & Fashion Contractors Admin, Marketing, PR, Publications IOTA21 Voluntary Team (in-kind)
$ 160,000 110,000 109,000 50,000 100,000 480,000
% 16 11 11 5 10 48
1,009,000 Please note the above doesn’t include funding achieved by artists and groups participating in the festival program and the significant in-kind contributions by exhibition venues and many other volunteers.
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Indian Ocean Craft Triennial Inc. is a not-for-profit incorporated association. www.indianoceancrafttriennial.com @crafttriennial IARN: A1042949R ABN 81 953 810 025
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Zizipho Poswa, 2020. Photo: Richard Keppel Smith. Represented by Southern Guild. Cape Town, South Africa.
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