About the 2006 Selling Yarns conference

Selling Yarns: Australian Indigenous textiles and good business in the 21st century has been initiated by The Australian National University (ANU), National Institute of the Humanities and Creative Arts in association with the ANU National Centre for Indigenous Studies, Centre for Cross Cultural Research and School of Art, in partnership with Craft Australia, Territory Craft and Charles Darwin University and Territory Craft.

The purpose of Selling Yarns: Australian Indigenous textiles and good business in the 21st century is to highlight the issues involved with the production and marketing of Indigenous textiles and to explore opportunities for further business and industry support with greater financial benefits.

What innovations in approach and practice are keeping textiles alive and what other measures can be put into place to assist the continuing development of Australian Indigenous textiles?
In what ways can we improve the market place for Indigenous textiles? Where are the successful models?
In the 21^st century how can Australian Indigenous textiles production survive?

Importantly this conference will provide a forum for discussion between peers, to compare notes, while also encouraging business participation to look for partnerships for future production. Artists and art workers from across Australia will meet to discuss similarities and differences in their textile production and needs, and find common ground through shared experience.

Members of the advisory committee for Selling Yarns are:

Suzanne Knight, National Insitute of the Humanities and Creative Arts, ANU
Jo Victoria, National Centre for Indigenous Studies, ANU
Louise Hamby, Centre for Cross Cultural Research, ANU
Valerie Kirk, School of Art, ANU
Catrina Vignando, Craft Australia
Sylvia Kleinert, School of Creative Arts and Humanities, Charles Darwin University
Doreen Mellor, National Library of Australia
Avi Amesbury, Craft Australia