JamFactory

JamFactory (formerly spelt Jam Factory) is a not-for-profit arts organisation which includes training facilities, galleries and shops, located in the West End precinct of Adelaide and on the Seppeltsfield Estate in the Barossa Valley, north of Adelaide. It is supported by the South Australian Government, University of South Australia, and private donors. It was founded in 1973 in an old jam factory in the suburb of St Peters. It runs training courses and specialises in high quality craft and design objects, including furniture, jewellery, ceramics, glass, and metal ware.

History

JamFactory was established as a craft training workshop by the Dunstan government, housed in an old jam factory on Payneham Road, in the suburb of St Peters. ^[1] It was officially opened in November 1974. It was created as a not-for-profit undertaking, and included areas for making glass, jewellery, textiles, and leather work. It also had a gallery and shop. In the early days, ceramicist Margaret Dodd created her series This woman is not a car at the studios at the back, which used to flood during heavy rain.^[2]

The ceramics studio opened in 1979, with Jeff Mincham as creative director (1979-1982), followed by Bronwyn Kemp (1983-1988), Peter Anderson (1989-1990), Stephen Bowers (1990-1999), Neville Assad-Salha (1999-2003), Philip Hart (2006-2008), Robin Best (2008-2010) and Damon Moon (2014-2018).^[3]

In 1992 JamFactory moved to a purpose-built building in the West End creative precinct of Adelaide city,^[1] on Morphett Street in close proximity to the Lion Arts Centre and Mercury Cinema. At the same time it shifted its focus slightly, with the closure of the textile and leather workshops, and the expansion of the jewellery workshop into a metal design studio. A space for making furniture was created, and wider commercial opportunities pursued.^[2]

In 2009 the retail area was refurbished to designs by Khai Liew, and a second shop was opened at Seppeltsfield winery in the Barossa Valley.^[2] As part of a major interior refurbishment in 2014, the Adelaide Casino commissioned hand-crafted glass light pendants from a team of 12 artists at the JamFactory, which would be hung from the ceiling of the A$5 million plus SKYroom. Each pendant, worth nearly A$2,000, weighs about 5 kilograms (11 lb).^[4]

In July 2017 it received public funding of A$490,000 towards a new retail store and increased production capacity at its West End studios, after having increased its turnover by 55% in the previous five years at both locations. They had increased their staff and also been hiring out the studios to independent artists. The planned purchase of a new 450 kilograms (990 lb) furnace for the glass studio, would increase its capacity by a third. It was also planning to open a new retail store in the North Terrace cultural precinct.^[5]

Between 1993 and 2018, JamFactory's funding was managed by Arts South Australia, but under the Marshall government, its governance was moved in 2018 to the Department of Innovation and Skills.^[6][7]

Designers Daniel To and Emma Aiston, who had previously run an arts studio known as "Daniel Emma" together since 2008, took over as creative directors of JamFactory at the beginning of 2019. At the same time, a collaboration between JamFactory and the National Gallery of Victoria’s Melbourne NGV Design store was begun, to retail the "Good Morning" collection of designer homewares.^[8][9]

Changes of name

JamFactory has been known by a series of names:^[10]

• Jam Factory Craft Centre (1973–1986/7)
• Jam Factory Workshops (1986/7–1991/1992)
• Jam Factory Craft and Design Centre (1991/1992–1997)
• JamFactory (briefly Jam Factory) Contemporary Craft and Design (1997–present)

Description

The city location is at 19 Morphett Street, next door to the Mercury Cinema and Lion Arts Centre. Four studios provide programs in ceramics, jewellery-making and fine metalwork, glass-making and furniture-making. There are also independent studio spaces for emerging artists, a shop specialising in high quality craft and design objects. JamFactory also collaborates with other organisations, architects and designers on specially commissioned work and projects.^[1] It commissions work, functions as a publisher and runs workshops.^[11]

The Seppeltsfield studio and shop opened in 2013 as a regional extension, to support local craftspeople and as an tourism offering. It is housed in an historic 1850s stables building, which has been extensively renovated.^[12]

Directors To and Aiston describe JamFactory as "an institution is not only iconic but is a unique place where skilled traditional craftspeople mix their expertise within a curated and design focussed environment which can’t be compared to anything else in the country”.^[8]

Training

The JamFactory's Associate Training Program provides training in ceramics, glass, furniture or metal. It comprises a foundation year, with the option to apply for a second year working semi-independently.^[13] The course teaches the relevant technical skills necessary for their craft as well as the essential business skills required to run a creative practice. Many alumni, such as Clare Belfrage, creative director of the Canberra Glassworks from 2009 and 2013,^[14] have become internationally-known and influential designer-makers.^[11]

People

Since 2010^[11] and as of September 2023^[update], the CEO is Brian Parkes. Under his tenure, the number of staff has doubled, from around 40 to over 80 people.^[2]

Alumni and artists who have worked at the JamFactory include:

• Margaret Dodd^[2]
• Nick Mount^[11]
• Clare Belfrage^[11]
• Honor Freeman^[11]
• Kirsten Coelho^[11]
• Khai Liew^[11]
• Peter Andersson^[2]
• Bronwyn Kemp^[2]
• Christopher Headley^[2]
• Lorraine Lee^[2]
• Nicola Purcell^[2]

Selected exhibitions and events

• From March to March 2011, in collaboration with the Institute for Photonics & Advanced Sensing (IPAS) at the University of Adelaide, the A Fine Line - Glass Meets Art Exhibition displayed the technique and process behind the making of glass art as well as the glass that underpins new technologies.^[15]
• From April to June 2013, the JamFactory hosted an exhibition featuring the work of its alumni, entitled Designing Craft/Crafting Design: 40 Years of JamFactory.^[11]
• On 26 April 2015 a special event celebrating food, wine and design showcased the products of 12 Glynde food and wine businesses, in collaboration with the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters council.^[16]
• From October to December 2018, in collaboration with the University of South Australia, JamFactory put on the exhibition Adelaide Modern, a three-part exploration of furniture design which included exhibits by design students.^[17]

• September 2023: GOLD: 50 Years 50 JamFactory Alumni^[18]

References

1. "About". JamFactory. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
2. Keen, Suzie (1 September 2023). "Then and now: JamFactory looks to a new golden era". InReview. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
3. Pearce, Judith. "Jam Factory". Flickr. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
4. Changarathil, Valerina (6 April 2014). "JamFactory glass artists score big wins in Adelaide Casino contract". Adelaide Now. The Advertiser. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
5. Keen, Suzie (11 July 2017). "JamFactory has designs on a new store". InDaily. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
6. "Creative Industries". South Australia. Dept of Innovation and Skills. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
7. "State Budget Sees Cuts to the Arts and Significant Changes to Arts South Australia". AICSA - Arts Industry Council of South Australia. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
8. Marsh, Walter (22 March 2019). "JamFactory appoints new creative directors". Adelaide Review. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
9. "Daniel Emma collection". National Gallery of Victoria Design Store. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
10. "JamFactory Contemporary Craft and Design Adelaide, S.A." (library catalogue entry). Trove. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
11. . Adelaide Design Review. 24 April 2013. Archived from the original on 4 August 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2019. originally published in Inside, issue 76: The 'Out of Town' issue
12. "JamFactory at Seppeltsfield". Seppeltsfield. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
13. "Associate Program". JamFactory. 25 August 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2023. Jamfactory Associate Program
14. "About". Clare Belfrage. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
15. "Art meets science in JamFactory glass exhibition". University of Adelaide. 22 March 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
16. Algie, Kellie (4 May 2015). "Food Secrets of Glynde shared at the JamFactory". GlamAdelaide. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
17. Crane, Nathan James (2 November 2018). "JamFactory's Adelaide Modern". Adelaide Review. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
18. Freezer, Rebecca (30 August 2023). "Exhibition Insight... GOLD: 50 Years 50 JamFactory Alumni". JamFactory. Retrieved 18 September 2023.