Our 2021 SWEET Calendars have arrived and each contributing young artist has received their own copy.  To see all the art works visit our SWEET GALLERY 
A few were left over and are available for purchase at the Colac Makers' Space for $10. All revenue will be used for youth art programmes in 2021.
Proudly supported by the Colac Otway Shire Council

Now COVID restrictions are lifted and the Makers’ Space is open, we can bring self taught printing techniques together in our printing sessions that run on a Thursday afternoon and frequently, also on Monday morning.
All the components of the printing kit will be investigated in what techniques they are used, as we begin the journey technique by technique into the world of printing. We will watch demonstrations of the printing press by our experienced print makers and share our experiences in the different etching methods.
Also, during lockdown, Judith ran Sunday drawing sessions via Zoom. We will learn how to take our drawings to an etching and print our plates on the press under the guidance of one of our experts.
Next year, after some experience and upon a successful completion of our printing press training course we can obtain a license to use the Makers’ Space printing press unsupervised.
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All made possible by the hard work of our committee and funding from Victorian Government's   Sustaining Creative Workers grant, through Regional Arts Victoria.

Bookings are essential and may be made via  BOOKING HERE.

During  the 2020 COVID lockdowns Judith's monthly drawing classes moved online and above are a sample of the drawings created during those sessions of Botanicals (Aug 16th); Trees (Sept 13th); Pen and wash (Sept 27th); Super fast sketching (Oct 11th) and Doodles. 
It was a great way to catch up and join in a friendly chat at the same time being gently tutored in the fine art of drawing.  Our practice in these new skills were transferred into creating printing plates as you will see in our next post.

​A unique COVID-19 funding opportunity from Victorian Government’s Sustaining Creative Workers grant through Regional Arts Victoria allowed the Colac Makers’ Space to bring forward our long-term plan to purchase a printing press and printmaking materials.
Consequently, we were very excited, mid-way through the COVID Great Pause, to receive our Printing Kits. These kits allowed us to learn and experiment from home in manual printing processes and some of our experimental prints are displayed above.

We anticipate the easing of COVID restrictions next week and dearly hope there is an opportunity to open the Maker’s Space for you. In anticipation we are finalising our COVID Safe Plans.
Because of the disruption COVID caused to our access of the space we are extending Memberships for 2020 accordingly

A 2020 Annual membership now expires 30 June 2021; a 2020 three-quarter year membership expires
​31 March 2021, and a 2020 half yearly expires 31 December 2020.

Apart from free use of the Colac Makers Space, member only workshops and a free webpage to showcase your art on this site, your membership fees also covers volunteer and property insurance.

A Colac Maker's Space,  2021 subscription of $50 will give you access to all this until 31 May 2021. To begin the application process click the button below.

A unique COVID-19 funding opportunity from Victorian Government’s Sustaining Creative Workers grant through Regional Arts Victoria allows the Colac Makers’ Space to bring forward our long-term plan to purchase a printing press and printmaking materials.
Consequently, we are very excited to invite you to come and collect your Printing Kit to take home and . experiment in manual printing processes from the Makers' Space between mid-day and 3pm on Friday 18 September.  

The Colac Makers’ Space are asking the children and youth of the Colac Otway Shire to create a 2D or 3D work to make SWEET art.
 
The work of art should reference ‘sweet’ in some way,  it will lift spirits, spread joy and hope and to support the community during the pandemic period because it lifts your spirits to create something sweet.  The art can be made using any media.
 
We encourage children to talk to their family members about how they feel and also investigate the different meanings of the word sweet.  What sweet things do they look forward to?  What is a symbol of sweet?  How do sweet things lift their spirit? And then, create an art piece that shares a message of hope, or communicates the message of what they discovered.
 
For Parents or Guardians, we will be accepting photos of children’s art from now until the 20 October 2020.  You can submit as many photos as you like. Photos of the artwork must be of good quality. This YouTube video here has  instructions on how to take a good photograph with your smart phone .
 
If you are a Facebook user,  please join our group Sweet Youth Art  and post your photos on our group page  with the #sweetcolacotwayshire  and #sweetart hashtags.
 
Otherwise send photos of artworks along with the age and first name of the artist to sweetcolacart@gmail.com

​Even though the doors of our Makers’ Space were closed because of COVID-19 our committee continued working behind the scenes on its plans to fund its fit out
The committee were very excited to receive more than $7000 in combined funding from the Stronger Communities – Wannon volunteer grants, and the Colac Otway Shire’s community funding grants to furnish the art space which will include adjustable worktables and stools.
When we opened in 2019 we used donated furniture which was great to get us started, but with the funding we can now furnish the space with standing height work tables and adjustable stools, easily managed trestles, stackable chairs and art storage. This will allow us to expand the range of artistic activities offered. She said having the appropriate equipment would help to attract more members as well as providing a more suitable set up for artists and professionals to conduct workshops.
The space brings artists previously working alone at home, together. At the Makers’ Space artists are collaborating on projects and sharing ideas, art students are using the space, and since opening 2019 our events have attracted 1,184 visitors, workshop participants and general artists and makers.
This venue has great community potential and we’re grateful for the local and federal government grants that will help to us realise our plans.