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]

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, 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:

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