Kim O’Keeffe
Mayor, Greater Shepparton

Greater Shepparton City Council is delighted to present Craftivism. Dissident Objects and Subversive Forms at Shepparton Art Museum (SAM).

This exhibition brings together works by contemporary artists and groups who explore the capacity of craft to address the world in which we live. Through a diverse range of techniques, these artists engage with ideas around shifting borders and mass migration, environmental sustainability and climate change, gender and representation, and democracy and sovereignty.

Arts and culture play a vital role in our community. They bring people together, forging strong community connections and offering different ways to view the world. Craftivism. Dissident Objects and Subversive Forms invites audiences to get involved, become inspired and engage through the exhibition and the accompanying education and public program activities, which are developed around art that is topical and timely.

We are delighted to present Craftivism. Dissident Objects and Subversive Forms as a Shepparton Art Museum curated exhibition, touring nationally by NETS Victoria. This exhibition has been made possible through the work of NETS Victoria, and specifically through the support of its Exhibition Development Fund. Our regional touring partners include Warrnambool Art Gallery (Vic),

Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery (Vic), Museum of Australian Democracy (ACT), Bega Valley Regional Gallery (NSW), Warwick Art Gallery (Qld) and the University of the Sunshine Coast Art Gallery (Qld). The impressive tour itinerary for Craftivism. Dissident Objects and Subversive Forms has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its funding and advisory body. We thank all the artists and generous lenders who have contributed to the exhibition and tour.

The exhibition has been curated by Anna Briers, SAM Senior Curator, and Rebecca Coates, SAM Director. We thank them and all SAM staff who have worked on this exhibition. At NETS Victoria, we acknowledge the support and work of Director Mardi Nowak,

who has been key to securing funding for this project, Exhibitions Coordinator Ellen Wignell and the NETS team. It is a pleasure working with NETS Victoria again to present another partnership exhibition.

We look forward to sharing this exhibition with our audiences.