DESIGN Canberra—capital’s biggest design festival kicks off soon

If Sydneysiders are passionate about anything its arts and culture. Just look at how popular major events are like Sculpture by the Sea.

If design intrigues you then plan a weekend in the capital to enjoy DESIGN Canberra, the biggest festival of its kind in the ACT. The fun kicks off in a couple of weeks, on 21 November, with close to 70 activities featuring more than 750 participants. Many activities are free.

This is DESIGN Canberra’s second year and the 2015 event is bigger and better, with something for everyone and all ages, including the kids.

Held from 21 to 29 November, including over two weekends, the festival puts you in direct touch with Canberra’s fast-changing, vibrant and diverse design community, as well as with special guests including Lucy Simpson, a widely exhibited Sydney-based artist/designer with a focus on storytelling and narrative. 

DESIGN Canberra shines the spotlight on the work of architects, interior designers, industrial designers, landscape designers, fashion designers, jewellers, visual artists, craftspeople and more.  

So what can you expect from the festival? Five streams of events and activities:

ACTivate—Explore an ACTivated Canberra CBD through pop-up exhibitions, installations, studios and shops featuring the diverse work of some of the capital’s most innovative designers.

Capital of CULTURE—See Canberra in a whole new light through exclusive guided tours of architectural and cultural landscape around the city, led by designers, architects and artists. 

DESIGN Buzz—Engage in discussions on big ideas, creative thinking and design through a conversation/lecture series with national and international experts. Lucy Simpson will be on stage to talk about ‘Placemaking and Culture’ with Professor Jessica Hemmings, from the UK’s National College of Art and Design. 

Living Artists—Gain exclusive insights into the innovative work of some of Canberra’s best local artists and design firms through tours of their inspiring studios and working spaces.

Exhibitions— Experience exciting art, craft and design through exhibitions hosted in premier galleries.

If you don’t want to miss out, take time to explore the extensive program and map out a plan of attack. Some events are held throughout the full festival. Others will ‘pop up’ over several days and some on one day only.

If you can’t get to Canberra, then head over to the Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences for the Good Design Awards: MAAS Selection. Details online.

The full program festival is on www.designcanberrafestival.com.au

DESIGN Canberra is an initiative of Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre.

Featured Images (in order of appearance):

GMB Architecture Canberra Airport Tour: View of Central Atrium. Image: Rodrigo Vargas

Brickworks Building Products The Gehry Collection, Designed by Bowral Bricks. Image: Courtesy Good Design Australia

DVANT designs—Image: courtesy of designer