Three sheds across the shire will shine as part of the inaugural Surf Coast Arts Trail Development Program, which offers a valuable opportunity to help nurture creative careers.
Held in the lead-up to this year's Arts Trail, the program features three free SHED Talks where attendees can discuss both the business of making art and the underlying influence of place with established local artists:
- The relationship between creativity and commerce – how to sustain the integrity of your practice and make a life you love: Saturday 17 June at The Footy Shed, Deans Marsh Memorial Reserve from 1pm to 4pm.
Veronica Phillips, Simon Holloway and Cara Johnson discuss the tension between the artist's inherent desire to create, and the everyday reality of making ends meet.
- From passion to profession – making a career out of your creative practice: Saturday 8 July at The Main Shed at Ashmore Arts, Torquay from 1pm to 4pm.
For creatives looking to take that next step to realise commercial opportunities, Nicola Cerini, Chela Edmunds and Rowena Martinich share how they took the leap.
- Place-based research – site specific practice and what it reveals about the past and present: Saturday 22 July at SHED300, Winchelsea from 1pm to 4pm.
Delve into place and collaborative practice with Jane Bartier, Jenny Murray-Jones and Sylvia Maseyk, and how it can challenge assumptions.
"Each SHED Talk will be followed by networking and nibbles, giving artists the chance to get to know Surf Coast creatives they may not have met before, to forge relationships and potential collaborations – and of course to admire the new creative life given to each of these wonderful old sheds," Cr Rose Hodge said.
"As a Council, we acknowledge the value of arts and creativity across the shire, and want to empower local artists through initiatives like this so that art can continue to connect, inspire and empower."
The 2023 Surf Coast Arts Trail will be held 5 and 6 August. Trailgoers can discover and purchase the work of the Surf Coast's thriving arts community – from hobbyists to professionals, craftspeople to artists, working in all types of mediums.
