Naarm/Melbourne Contemporary Jewellery and Object Biennial

Radiant Pavilion is a celebration of the many aspects of contemporary jewellery and object practice in Naarm/Melbourne and around the world. Drawing from the strong community surrounding contemporary jewellery and object in Naarm/Melbourne, Radiant Pavilion has taken shape over four iterations and encompasses events from national and international artists.

From the beginning, the energy, innovation, and commitment of the artists involved is what has made Radiant Pavilion the largest event of its kind in the southern hemisphere.
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The inaugural event ran 1 - 6 September 2015 and showcased 217 artists from 17 countries in 57 events including urban interventions, performances, installations, exhibitions, talks and open studios. In 2017, the program of 80 events presented the work of 324 artists between 26 August - 3 September. It was accompanied by two writing projects featuring eight writers and three professional practice seminars, and ran in partnership with the 17th JMGA conference, Making OUT.  An international symposium and two professional mentorships were core projects within the 2019 program of 67 events, celebrating the work of 441 international artists. The 2021 festival was presented online 4 - 12 September 2021 and included 181 artists across 57 events.

Radiant Pavilion will return to Naarm/Melbourne 14 - 22 September 2024.

Aims

In coordinating an active program of events, Radiant Pavilion supports and celebrates the contemporary jewellery and object field by:

• Creating a strong platform for presentation, participation and investigation
• Connecting artists, theorists, collectors, wearers and appreciators from Australia and around the world
• Growing the audience by increasing visibility and awareness of the field
• Building sustainable interest in and appreciation for the art form
• Establishing a southern focal point for the global field

Co-founders

Claire McArdle began an education in Gold & Silversmithing in 2007 at RMIT University. She travelled to Estonia for a semester of her Honours year after which she decided to curate an exhibition of Estonian and Australian contemporary jewellery and objects, Words and Works from a World Away. This exhibition was held in Melbourne in 2013 and travelled to The Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design at the end of 2014. The accompanying book included several essays in Estonian and English. 
Claire has held ten solo exhibitions and her work has been exhibited internationally in Thailand, Hong Kong, USA, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Austria and The Netherlands. She has undertaken residencies in Australia, Mexico, Iceland and Estonia and won first prize at Contemporary Wearables '13 and the National Contemporary Jewellery Award in 2016. And received the Excellence Award at the Victorian Craft Awards in 2017.

Chloë Powell is a curator and creative producer, working in the arts in Australia and internationally since 2008 with organisations including the Koorie Heritage Trust, RMIT Design Hub, and Museum Arnhem, the Netherlands. Driven by facilitating projects that foster connection and have lasting impact on creative practice, she has developed programs for artists and arts workers including  managing the Mari Funaki Award for Contemporary Jewellery (2014 and 2016).
Chloë served on the Yarra Arts Advisory Committee for the City of Yarra 2017-2020, and has been a judge for several national art and design awards. She has contributed to NGV Gallery magazine and Art Jewelry Forum, and assisted Dutch curator and art historian Liesbeth den Besten on her book On Jewellery: an International Compendium of Contemporary Art Jewellery (Arnoldsche 2011) and accompanying exhibition Ontketend! Grenzeloze Sieraden (Jewellery Unleashed).
Chloë is currently undertaking a PhD with the Australian National University.