Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre Media release     1 February 2011 Elements: metal In 2011 Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre celebrates its 40th birthday. A key feature of the 2011 program is the Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre curated exhibition series titled Elements. This dynamic series of group exhibitions will celebrate the Centre’s membership of leading craft practitioners and designer makers. The first in the series, Elements: metal, will highlight invited artists Johannes Kuhnen, Eugenie Keefer-Bell, Robert Foster, Gilbert Riedelbauch, Rohan Nichol, Oliver Smith, Sabine Pagan and Sean Booth. All eight practitioners are driving forces within contemporary Australian metalsmithing. They are nationally and internationally renowned for their own respective practices, with many exhibiting in solo and group exhibitions, and being represented in gallery, institutional, corporate and private collections throughout Australia and the world. They are also influencing the future direction of their field as educators at tertiary institutions including the Australian National University School of Art, University of Canberra, and Charles Sturt University; and as mentors to emerging artists. Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre proudly shares a history with each of the invited artists. They have been involved in shaping the organisation over the past 40 years as board members, Accredited Professional Members, and exhibiting artists. Through Elements: metal, the Centre acknowledges and celebrates the continuing practice of these exceptional artists and designers and the significant contribution that they have made to contemporary Australian craft and design. Following Elements: metal, the Centre will present group exhibitions focusing on glass, clay, fibre and wood in the upcoming Elements series. Mr Jon Stanhope, Chief Minister, Australian Capital Territory, will be guest speaker at the official opening of the exhibitions and launch of the Centre’s 40th birthday celebratory year at 6.pm Thursday 10 February 2011. The exhibition continues until Saturday 19 March 2011 in Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre’s Gallery, Level 1 North Building, 180 London Circuit, Canberra City. The Centre is open Tuesday to Friday 10.am to 5.pm and Saturday 12.pm to 4.pm.  Avi Amesbury, Executive Director For information Media contact: Amy Kerr, Communications and Program Manager Telephone: (02) 6262 9333 Email: amy.kerr@craftact.org.au Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre - Level 1, North Building, 180 London Circuit, Canberra ACT Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre is supported by the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy - an initiative of the Australian, State and Territory Governments. Craft ACT: Craft and Design Centre is also supported by the ACT Government and the Australia Council for the Arts, the Australian Government's arts funding and advisory body.