Laki Sideris - Suburban Vintage

Early last year Darebin Council merged its major arts events into a new arts festival called FUSE, with a program designed to showcase the richness and diversity of Darebin’s arts community twice a year, in autumn and spring. Unfortunately COVID put a bit of a dampener on things in 2020, but this year (fingers crossed) it is full steam ahead and the Darebin arts team has put together a wonderful festival ready for us all to explore.

Running from 11th to the 28th March, you can visit art exhibitions, attend live music and theatre, participate in workshops or art walks, and discover the hidden events and unexpected happenings that are part of FUSE.

Program highlights include:

• The Art of Storytelling in Song, a performance in conversation with Mick Thomas and Jessie Lloyd at Preston Reservoir Bowls Club, Friday 19 March.

• Suburban Vintage, an exhibition at Darebin Arts Centre by award winning photographer Laki Sideris, illuminating the traditions and personalities behind the Darebin amateur homemade wine competition. (20-27 March.)

• Women of Soul, a special ten year anniversary musical event celebrating the resilience of female artists in Darebin.

• The premiere screening of Ganbu Gulin: One Mob, a moving documentary that tells the story of Darebin’s decision to cease celebrations on 26 January. Preston City Hall, 13 March.

• Paradise Lots, a live theatre experience from experimental theatre company Pony Cam, and a group of young artists. See an urban carpark transformed into a large-scale performance space and challenge your unchecked assumptions about youth. 19-21 March (location details on registration)

To see the full program, book in and find out more visit www.fusedarebin.com.au. Note that most events are free.

No matter who you are, you’re bound to discover something that moves, intrigues or connects you. Sounds great hey? Aren’t we so lucky to have this on doorstep, and to live in a community that values and celebrates the arts.

Women of Soul

Keen to get to know others in the neighbourhood? Join us for community gardening or community craft each Friday morning from 10am … and then share morning tea out on the corner from 11.30am. You’re welcome to come along for any part of this low key community-building morning.

We’ll be starting a new yarn bombing project with community craft participants inside - all skills (and no skills) gratefully received - at the very least everyone’s always keen for a chat! And the garden needs some love after our month of holidays if you’d like to be active outside for an hour or so.

We hope to see you here in 2021!

We’re super excited to be offering a Saturday 6 week drawing workshop here at ACC in Term 1 and 2. The classes run from 2-4pm, and are led by local artist Louisa Bufardeci. Term 1 starts on Saturday 13 February. Term 2 starts on Saturday 1 May. The cost is $90 for 6 weeks - that is $15 per week.

In this class you will develop basic observational drawing skills. With all materials supplied, it is a low-cost opportunity to develop and build the observation and co-ordination skills necessary to make creative drawings in any style. The course will cover contour drawing, creative compositions, drawing with perspective etc.

There are only 2 spots left this term, so book in quickly if you are keen to join in. Just click here.

We’re very excited that our lovely local artist friend Louisa Bufardeci will be offering a 6 week program of drawing classes in the community shed on a Saturday in Term 1 and Term 2 this year.

The classes are designed for all abilities from beginners to more experienced artists, and will focus on building up participants observational drawing skills. They will explore things like perspective and composition using objects at hand (perhaps you’ll walk away with some fabulous drawings of power tools and handsaws!).

The classes could be ideal for high school students who are doing art, or anyone else who would like to come along and join in a low cost art experience.

If you have a burgeoning interest or simply enjoy company while you create please book yourself a place here.

The course costs $90 for 6 weeks (only $15 a week) and includes Louisa’s tutoring and all materials. Term 1 starts on Saturday 13 February.

Local artist Maria is keen to run a community short course ‘Introduction to Collage”.

Collage is one of those arts that is accessible to everyone. It can be serious or very funny and can be a wonderful meditative process, with the cutting and pasting and then moving the elements around and interchanging them to come up with a final design.

If you think this might be your cup of tea click here to find out more about what Maria is proposing, and to register your interest. Maria will then contact you in February to discuss how the course will progress.