Undercurrent Design Market moves to a new home and returns in November 2025

Undercurrent Design Market moves to a new home and returns in November 2025 

Craft + Design Canberra is excited to receive the gift of the Undercurrent Design Market from its founders, Richard Baz and Mel O'Hanlon, the Directors and creators of The Curatoreum. 

‘The Curatoreum is delighted to announce the gifting of the Undercurrent Design Market to Craft + Design Canberra, a non-profit organisation devoted to promoting local and regional craft and design,’ said Baz and O’Hanlon. ‘The transition will ensure the continued growth and success of this celebrated event within Australia’s craft and design community.’ 

Jodie Cunningham, CEO + Artistic Director of Craft + Design Canberra, said it was an extraordinary gift that was an honour to receive as it is completely in alignment with our core strategic vision to celebrate and cultivate our artists and our community and  our mission to advocate for contemporary craft and design practice in the Canberra region, connecting artists, community, partners and places. 

Since founding in 2009 at the National Portrait Gallery, the Undercurrent Design Market has championed creativity and craftsmanship, beginning with just 30 makers from Canberra and its surrounds. Over the years, it has grown into a premier event, featuring over 70 talented makers from across the country and drawing more than 13,000 visitors annually (excluding two COVID-restricted years). This tightly curated market has always offered the people of Canberra and regions unique access to some of our finest artisans and makers, while generating over $350,000 annually in direct earnings for the makers. 

‘Craft + Design Canberra is an inclusive and innovative organisation which cultivates pathways for entrepreneurship and enterprise development in the craft and design economy,’ Cunningham said. ‘This is important to address the ever-present economic fragility which underpins the arts sector.' 

‘With the experience of running the Craft + Design Festival over the past decade we have the expertise to manage Undercurrent, which is a favourite on the Canberra arts and design calendar.  We are very grateful to The Curatoreum for this generous gift and for assisting with a smooth transition this year.’ 

Undercurrent Design Market will be held from 21- 23 November at the Vault at Dairy Road 

Applications for stall holders will be open from Friday 27 June 2025 via craftanddesigncanberra.org/pages/opportunities.