Steve Birnie
It is often difficult for solo artists to break into the artist landscape of Daylesford, competing for limited galleries and art-spaces that often import works from outside the local community.
The Daylesford Regional Arts Cooperative (trading as daylesfordarts)seeks to directly benefit the community by providing and enabling the creation of events for works that would otherwise not see the light of day and to help activate a creative ecosystem that is currently ‘hidden’ become part of the Shires hot-spot marketing strategy along with farm-gates, cafes, distilleries, coffee roasters and spa-experiences.
The Cooperative will hold a Pop-Up Art Show, “Behind Closed Doors” at 94 Vincent Street over the Easter long weekend.
The Cooperative originally formed almost two years ago as the Daylesford Arts Collective. The group incorporated in May 2023. The original three members has now grown to 35 with 12 active members and others moving in and out as life commitments allow them.
To date, the Cooperative has held seven successful pop-up shows at 94 Vincent St thanks to the generous support of Hepburn Shire Council and Cr Leslie Hewitt.
Each three day event has attracted over 300 visitors and provided artists with a real sense of achievement. The benefits to artists of such engagements are often intangible – they are both social and financial but judging by the comments left in the visitor books, they are appreciated by the local community.
The pop-up gallery will be open from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm From Easter Friday, March 29 to Easter Monday, April 1.
The Cooperative will hold a sausage sizzle on Saturday, April 30 in collaboration with the Stanbridge Hall Heritage Committee to raise funds for further renovations to the Hall and future group exhibitions.
New members are always welcome. Contact Sandy Angliss (Secretary) sandyangliss@bigpond.com
Some of the members of the Daylesford Regional Arts Collective. (Photo Supplied.)
Steve Birnie is the Chair of the Daylesford Regional Arts Collective.
