A Charles Sturt University (CSU) student’s goal to work locally to produce sustainable designs and practice for art studios around the globe has been given a major boost through financial support from Australia’s premier arts funding body, the Australia Council.

 

Mr Rohan Nicol is an artist, jeweller, and PhD student in the School of Visual and Performing Arts at CSU at Wagga Wagga. He is researching a financially sustainable model of studio based craft and design practice by engaging with the Australian manufacturing industry.

 

Mr Nicol was earlier this month awarded funding from the Australia Council under one of its new initiatives known as the Connections Residency Program.

Under the program, funding of up to $30 000 will be available to the CSU student in 2009 to extend his residency with regional sign manufacturer, Precision Signs, a collaboration that began last year. He will utilise the funding to develop three new lighting design products during the term of his residency.

 

Mr Nicol has completed his first design, ‘Stretchlight’ and is putting the final touches to his second design called ‘Peppered Sunlight’.

 

The Connections Residency Program is a new Australia Council initiative in supporting artists to initiate residencies with non-arts businesses and industries.

 

After years designing and creating jewellery for a niche market, Mr Nicol wanted to design and manufacture on a larger scale. To find a way to use his skills to create a sustainable practice of his own, Mr Nicol began a PhD at Charles Sturt University in 2006.

 

“I am interested in developing a model of sustainable studio based craft and design practice that is built on collaborative connections with industry. I’m seeking new ways to apply existing technologies to manufacture high-end architectural lighting in regional Australia,” said Mr Nicol.

 

“By working with industry, we can produce lighting that is authentically original and makes a distinctive market offering. My work with Precision Signs is achieving excellent outcomes and the manufacturer’s contribution to this project is critical to its success,” said Mr Nicol

 

“This highly competitive and prestigious grant secured by Rohan is a significant milestone for his career as an artist, designer and researcher,” said Head of the School of Visual and Performing Arts at CSU, Associate Professor Margaret Woodward.

CSU student Mr Rohan Nicol’s initial lighting designs with manufacturer Precision Signs will be launched on the market during the State of Design Festival 2009 in the Royal Exhibition Building, Victoria Parade, Carlton in Melbourne on Wednesday 15 July. His PhD, entitled ‘Crafting Designs On Wealth’, is supervised by Professor David Green and Dr Neil Overton from CSU.