Store/Brand Overview

Established in 1941, Sturt is a national centre for the teaching and promotion of Australian contemporary craft & design.
Sturt is a favourite destination for over 50,000 visitors each year who enjoy Sturt's idyllic Southern Highlands setting and magical cool-climate gardens.
Our award-winning design shop provides the essential destination whether you are looking for that special gift or are a serious collector of contemporary craft. All our products are designed in Australia, including fine furniture by Sturt School for Wood graduates.
Sturt presents an all-year round changing exhibition program featuring individual and group artists across all craft and art mediums.

Organisation

Sturt Craft Centre

Team

Established in 1941, Sturt is the oldest craft & design centre in Australia. Sturt incorporates a gallery, craft & design shop,cafe,museum and historic gardens as well as working studios in metalwork, woodwork, ceramics and textiles. Sturt maintains an anbitious artist in residence program, offers an extensive annual program of classes and courses including a residential summer and winter school and presents a wide range of events each year including talks, music events, and weekend festivals. Sturt manages an important collection of post-war contemporary craft - all of it made at Sturt since the 1950s by some of Australia's best know craft artists. The collection currently number apporximately 1,500 objects and has been assessed as national significant. Sturt receives approximately 50,000 visitors each year and generates approximately $1.2 million each year in to the craft and design sector.
Sturt shop was established in the 1970s and now represents in excess of 300 australian craft artists from all over Australia as well as the work of Sturt visiting residents and graduates of the Sturt School for Wood.
The Sturt shop and gallery extends over 250 square metres and features an impressive display of contemporary handmade furniture, an extensive selection of Australian pottery, jewellery, glass, textiles, books and assorted items. Sturt has recently developed a new web-site featuring our first on-line shop 'Sturt Trade'.

Sturt Gallery presents a changing program of 10 exhibitions each year that includes group and individual craft exhibitions and important touring exhibitions designed to promote craft and design in Australia. Sturt produces many of its own exhibitions, some of which we tour to other venues. We work in partnership with a wide range of other cultural institutions, galleries and creative groups and individuals. Sturt is a member of Australian Craft and Design Centres, Sturt is a NSW Institute of Teachers endorsed provider of professional development, Sturt is a Registered Training Organisation and receives support from the NSW Governmment through Arts NSW for its annual program of activities. In 2011 Sturt was voted the Southern Highlands Business of the Year. Sturt is one of the major cultural attractions of the Southern Highlands region of NSW.

Store/Brand Brief

Sturt is an inspiring place to visit. Sturt renews your faith in the value of traditional products, skills and the beauty, functionality and longevity of contemporary craft and design in Australia. A visit to Sturt encourages you to invest money in something that has been made by hand. A visit to Sturt encourages you to enrol in one of the many courses and workshops that are offered for absolute beginners right up to highly skilled practitioners. At Sturt you can meet artists at work from Australia and overseas and engage with the buzz and excitement of active studios where work is produced for sale in the Sturt Shop.

Store/Brand Innovation / Need

Sturt is the birthplace of contemporary craft in Australia. Sturt has remained true to its original values for over 70 years and still offers on the job training and development of craft artists in its studios and, through its gallery, shop, website, residency programs and events continues to support Australian craft artists through every stage of their development. Despite its history, collection and tradition Sturt remains contemporary and cutting-edge providing opportunities for new and emerging artists and promoting the development of new work.

Retail Challenge

It is happenstance. Sturt has evolved over many years and offers a wide range of features and avenues of support for the Australian craft sector. Now, Sturt is a very precious resource. There is nothing else quite like Sturt in Australia and its survival is remarkable.