Nurturing development in a creative space

CONFIDENCE, capacity and creativity is being built by people with disabilities each week at the Creative Community Studios in Eaglehawk.

The space, which is a venture of Complex Behaviour Change, was developed by creative director Melissa Currie.

“What we do is we run a range of programs for people with NDIS funding around the arts,” she said.

“The whole aim behind it really was to create a community space where people can connect as well as nurture and grow from creatively. We offer a range of programs like music, dance and arts, and even community connections as well.

“It’s a lot of capacity building, so giving people the confidence to be in a space where they feel comfortable but then offer them the opportunity to do all different creative activities, to find something they really love to do.

“The model that I developed was around making sure that the staff were professionals in the field that they were facilitating to the members.

“We’ve got professional artists, musicians, cooks and dancers so they’re passionate about what they’re facilitating so the programs that we’re running for people, the guys are really getting a full benefit out of the passion coming through from the staff because it’s what they love as well.”

Ms Currie said the outcomes of the studio have been “astounding”, as members develop their own confidence and connections with the wider community.

“People aren’t going to grow and develop and have the best lives if they’re kept behind closed doors and not included in the community,” she said.

“We’ve got people there that had nothing really much in their lives but now they come to that space and they’ve got connections with each other but besides that they’ve found their own little niche creatively.”

The studio also allows members to develop their self-expression, which Ms Currie said can be challenging, and staff support extends beyond studio walls.

“Creativity enhances confidence and self-expression. A lot of these people may lack ways of expressing themselves due to their disability so we can find many forms creatively for them to have an outlet,” she said.

“Within doing that, you’re building confidence and empowering them and once they’re empowered it’s giving them more of an overview of what they’re capable of and what’s around for them.

“We also do quite a lot of advocacy, we help people out a lot. It’s not like they just come in and have a good time and go.

“We really support people holistically in their lives with things that are going on and we have some really strong connections, and make sure that they’ve got a voice and support them through anything they’re going through.

“Creativity is the keystone to connection, confidence and empowerment, really.”