Artists’ aim to connect creatives

AN Inverleigh-based creative is looking to bring artists in Golden Plains Shire’s southern towns together.

For the past 20 years, Lyndel Quick has focused her creative efforts in Geelong as founding artistic director of Blink Dance Theatre.

Having lived in Inverleigh for the past decade, she said she realised how little an artistic connection she had to her home.

“I’m wanting to expand my practice to where I live,” she said. “Artists are very informed by the spaces they’re in.

“I realised I’ve lived here for 10 years and I don’t really know other artists here. I want to connect with the place I live and find other practicing artists in an informal networking concept.”

Quick is launching her networking project with a coffee get-together which is scheduled to take place at Sonny Cafe on Sunday August 27 at 11am.

With a potential follow-up in September, she said she’s aiming for the coffee meetups to run four to five times a year at different locations throughout the region.

Quick has also reached out to arts officers with Golden Plains Shire to see how her idea could support the municipality’s arts strategies.

She said she’s had about 12 people respond to her callout so far, and that it’s important for the region to have a more-connected creative community.

“This is a very spread-out shire. There’s GP Arts Inc that have opportunities so I’m hoping to add to that with additional avenues,” she said.

“I’m not wanting to create a big network but local artists with local enthusiasm and grassroots connection.

“When there’s communities with grassroots, local creatives, and councils that can put their heads together, great things can come out of it.”

Following her networking drive, Quick said she hopes to develop community arts initiatives with events like a multidisciplinary networking get-together and a group project in Inverleigh celebrating the Leigh River.

To express interest in the network or in attending the first coffee meetup, contact Quick on 0419 619 996.