Bellarine gets creative with new collaborative space

A NEW co-working space has opened up for creatives of all levels on the Bellarine Peninsula.

Located in Portarlington, Port Art Collective offers a supportive and encouraging environment for people to drop in and spend the day.

Sally Cant has been an artist for 30 years and started to think about opening her own business when she outgrew her own home studio and couldn’t find anything similar on the Bellarine.

“The co-working space became a priority for me and so I started looking for a space that would accommodate my storage for me to paint, but also where it would feel comfortable for other people to paint in.”

Ms Cant said the business also helps fight the feeling of isolation artists can experience, with most of them working by themselves.

“I’m absolutely fine with that, most of the time, but every now and then what I would love to do is go and work in a space, on my own, but where there’s more than just me.”

To use the space, people must be creating something and being respectful towards everybody.

“They don’t have to be an artist or a painter, they can do whatever they want to do, they can come in here and knit,” Ms Cant said.

“I don’t care, as long as they feel like they’re enjoying the space with others around them, they can stop and have a cup of tea with somebody, or they can admire someone else’s artwork.”

A variety of art classes are on offer in different mediums, including after school lessons, with state-of-the-art technology so everybody can see the facilitator without crowding each other.

Port Art Collective has a very local focus and will also serve as a gallery for artists living on the Bellarine.

“I’m really passionate about looking after our own community and having lots of guests down here that will grow the skills of the community,” Ms Cant said.

Accessibility was a huge focus when she was looking for the space, with the entire area from the carpark into the studio being flat and wheelchair accessible.

Artists of all experience levels are welcome to attend, with some materials also available to purchase for those who are just starting out or wanting to try something different.

On top of being a co-working environment, Port Art Collective is also available to hire for a range of events including small weddings, social gatherings, workshops and more.

“We want people to feel like it is a community space and we will hire it out at minimal cost to people,” Ms Cant said.

Port Art Collective can be found at Unit 6, 12/16 Rajah Court Portarlington and is open Monday to Friday from 10am until 3pm.

For more information, head to portartcollective.com.au