Our history

Artisan began its legacy in 1970 as the Craft Association, founded by a small group of craft practitioners to promote quality craft production, and encourage and support the growth of craft across Queensland.

In this earliest incarnation, the founding members met every Sunday morning at the Design Arts Gallery. In 1978, the Association became a not for profit company and changed its name to The Crafts Council of Queensland, placing it within a national collective of state funded, membership based craft organisations.

Finding a permanent home in the School of Arts building in Ann Street, the Council established a gallery space focused on exhibiting craft and design from across the state. The Council provided information services, consultancy services and advice in the areas of marketing, education and professional development to a wide constituency/membership of craft and design practitioners.

In 1998 the Council moved to the newly renovated arts ‘hub’ of 381 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley. This building housed many arts organisations including Artworkers Alliance, Regional Galleries Association of Queensland and Public Art Agency. Here, the organisation was renamed Craft Queensland and a reinvigorated focus on exhibitions across three gallery spaces and a dedicated retail store took place.

In 2007, our trading name was updated to Artisan. In March 2018 Artisan established a new Queensland home for craft and design. Situated on King Street in the heart of the Brisbane Showgrounds, the new gallery, workshop space and Artisan store open 21 April. 

IMAGE Clairy Laurence studio, Contemporary Clay: Objects of Desire (detail), 2016, animation still. Film by Sophia Dique.