Limited Openings for Michael Fortune Masterclass Series in Perth
Reporter:
Staff reporter
Local woodworkers looking to refine their craft have a rare opportunity early next year, as a few remaining places are still available for the Michael Fortune workshop series hosted by the Fine Woodwork Association of WA (FWWA).
Scheduled for January 2027, the masterclasses bring internationally renowned Canadian furniture designer and educator Michael Fortune to Western Australia for a series of hands-on intensive sessions.
While the visit includes specialized sessions on bandsaw maintenance and general design development, interest is particularly focused on his flagship 5-Day Chair Design Masterclass, running from 11 to 15 January 2027.
"This course is aimed at woodworkers who want to move past copying existing plans and start building an idea bank that will serve their practice for years." — Fine Woodwork Association of WA
This course is a must for serious woodworkers who want to learn how to design and build chairs.
About Michael Fortune
Michael Fortune primarily designs and makes custom furniture for private residences across Canada and the United States. He uses traditional woodworking and metalworking techniques in combination with innovative forming processes adapted from the aerospace and boat-building industries.
Although he describes his studio-based work as contemporary, he enjoys playing with a wide range of natural and historical influences—whether a beautiful Mesopotamian vase circa 2800 BC, a piece of discarded furniture, or the texture of split firewood. Sketching, making scale models, and building full-size prototypes form an essential part of his design process. His goal is to create objects that are resolved on every level and satisfy his personal aesthetic.
In addition to his studio practice, Fortune designs wood products for manufacture in developing economies such as Trinidad, Belize, Mexico, and Guyana. Sponsored by international aid agencies or private ventures, these projects often involve on-site training and require him to commute between his Canadian studio and the communities with which he works abroad. Participating in these international development initiatives allows his studio to contribute to both culture and the economy in a balanced way.