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As Australia’s dying crafts face an uncertain future, a team of artists and educators has brought back to life a rare weaving device that was destined for the landfill. The Jacquard loom, once a cornerstone of RMIT’s textile design courses, has been revived through collective efforts.
The story of a rare weaving device’s rescue is a poignant snapshot of the state of Australia‘s higher education system. The Jacquard loom, which was destined for the landfill after being decommissioned by RMIT in 2022, has been brought back to life through the collective efforts of artists, teachers, and students.
The ‘a very special affinity’ with the loom is a quote that describes Daisy Watt‘s connection to the device. The Jacquard loom is a rare device that uses punch cards – an early form of code – to guide the lifting and lowering of threads. This intricate machine was once a cornerstone of RMIT‘s renowned weaving and textile design courses for 20 years.
The Jacquard loom, invented by Joseph Marie Jacquard in 1804, revolutionized textile production.
This mechanical loom used a series of punched cards to control the weaving process, enabling intricate patterns and designs.
The invention improved efficiency and reduced labor costs.
By 1830, over 10,000 Jacquard looms were in operation worldwide, transforming the textile industry.
The technology's impact was significant, paving the way for mass production and modern manufacturing techniques.
The university course changes that replaced deep skills with competency checklists have resulted in a decline of fine arts education. ‘extremely dry and lowest common denominator’ is how some teachers describe the new courses, which also see resources being throttled and student contact hours cut by more than half. Textile design teachers at RMIT argue that this approach diminishes education and results in systematic de-skilling.
The loss of mastery is a pressing concern, as the focus shifts from teaching students to perform complex tasks to simply checking off boxes on a competency checklist. ‘so much energy is spent on compliance that the actual core skills we’re teaching are collateral damage’ notes John Brooks.
Despite the challenges, there are glimmers of hope. RMIT has recently approved a new diploma in textile design, and efforts are being made to maintain space for fine arts education. The rescue collective hopes that the loom will eventually be accessible for people to work, teach, and create on again.
The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, commonly known as RMIT, is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia.
Founded in 1887, it has grown into one of the largest universities in Australia, with over 80,000 students from more than 100 countries.
RMIT offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across its seven colleges, including business, design, engineering, health sciences, and more.
The university is known for its strong industry connections, innovative research, and commitment to sustainability.
“students desperately need a better technical and theoretical foundation’ notes Ella, a third-year fine arts student at the University of Tasmania. It is imperative that we recognize the importance of preserving traditional crafts and skills. By doing so, we can ensure that these valuable tools are not lost forever.
Traditional crafts have been an essential part of human culture for centuries, providing a means of self-expression and community building.
These handmade goods often carry historical significance and cultural value, with techniques passed down through generations.
According to the World Crafts Council, there are over 10,000 traditional crafts practiced worldwide, ranging from textiles and ceramics to woodworking and metalwork.
In many communities, traditional crafts continue to play a vital role in preserving heritage and promoting economic development.
The loom is now in Ballarat, an incubator space for which the rescue collective pays peppercorn rent. This move marks a significant step forward in the fight to save Australia‘s dying crafts.
