2026 Craft + Design Canberra Daily Creative Challenge

I am honoured to announce that I am the winner of the Contemporary Craft + Design Prize in 2026. My thanks to Craft + Design Canberra for this prestigious prize.

Judges’ feedback on the 21 days of work for winning the prize:

Kathryn delivered an outstanding response across all assessment criteria. For each daily word, she offered a unique and insightful interpretation, translating her ideas into meticulously crafted works to express this year’s theme of Dissent.

The series of artworks encompassed wearable works and sculptural pieces, drawing on materials that ranged from hard to soft, natural to manufactured, and traditional to contemporary. The inclusion of elements that change over time or that spoke to performance and transience, for example, the ring holding burning matches, added to the contemporary and experimental nature of the work. This diversity enriched the collection without compromising its overall cohesion. Kathryn’s thoughtful use of juxtaposition is evident throughout the series. In Unbind, she explores the tension between containment and liberation, while in Bloom, blossom becomes a sharp and unyielding statement of resistance. Each piece invites pause, encouraging each of us to reflect on its meaning during this unique period of time. Kathryn’s considered perspectives, combined with the extraordinary care, craftsmanship and conceptual depth of each piece, set her apart as the clear front-runner in this year’s challenge.

Exhibition

The 2026 Craft + Design Canberra Daily Creative Challenge Exhibition will be on display at Craft + Design Canberra from 24 September to 24 October 2026.

The 2026 Craft + Design Canberra Daily Creative Challenge celebrates Canberra as a vibrant centre of creativity while connecting a wider community of makers across Australia and beyond.

Each July, creatives from around the world respond to a series of daily word prompts, sharing new work via Instagram. Working across ceramics, textiles, photography and mixed media, participants embrace experimentation, process and connection through creativity.

Now in its fifth year, the 2026 theme Dissent advocates for creativity as a powerful tool for questioning, challenging, and reshaping ourselves and the world around us. 

Over the three week challenge, participants generated thousands of artworks and posts. The result is a diverse and series work that reflects the energy, imagination and collective spirit of the Challenge.

To explore the participants’ creations, visit #CDCCREATIVECHALLENGE26 on Instagram.

2026 Craft + Design Canberra Daily Creative Challenge Finalists

Alison Cone | @seaflowerspins

Cam Michael | @cammichaelart

Carol Cooke | @cookeart

Caroline McCarthy | @cmcdfat

Cathrine Stephenson | @creative_chickadee

Francis Jaye Johnson | @francis.jaye

Freya Robinson | @freya.h.r

Henry Shawcross | @hgws77

Imogen Keen | @side_seam

Julia Raath | @juliaraath