Art and gin at Kilderkin

AN exhibition of works by adult students of The Art Club Hub are on display until Sunday 11 May at Kilderkin Distillery.

The Art Club Hub is a local business that provides a space for new or experienced artists of all ages to come together and be creative.

Art coach Erin Robinson said working with Kilderkin Distillery creates mutual benefits.

“Leah [Haynes] and I came together a little while ago – we’re both teachers and artists, we just wanted to create a space in Ballarat where we could all come together,” she said.

“[The exhibition] is a mutual thing that works both ways for both businesses and it’s really special.”

Tallulah Crellin is one of the artists whose work is on display and she said seeing it hanging on the wall is a proud moment.

“It takes it to a whole new level, and you actually feel a lot of pride,” she said.

“It’s amazing what you can come up with and what you can do.”

This is the first time The Art Club Hub has put on an exhibition at Kilderkin, but the local businesses have previously collaborated with paint and sip evenings.

Distillery co-owner Chris Pratt said that in a challenging business climate, it is important to put on events such as exhibitions to attract customers.

“People are focusing more on experiences so really to drive the attractions we have to run more experiences like the artwork, like music evenings,” he said. “We don’t take any commission, we just ask the artists to use their social media to promote the exhibitions.”

Kilderkin Distillery is open from midday Thursday to Sunday.

The exhibition is free but visitors are encouraged to try one of the distillery’s Larrikin beverages.

To join the The Art Club Hub, visit its website.