Council are calling on Central Coast individual visual artists or creative groups to submit their interest in utilising a variety of spaces in several town centre locations for creative endeavours.

Council’s Director Connected Communities, Julie Vaughan said the local creative and arts industry has been significantly impacted by COVID-19 and this initiative will provide much needed support.

“Council are actively developing a number of initiatives to support and sustain the Central Coast’s creative community and this one has the added benefit of activating town centres which also supports local businesses,” Ms Vaughan said.

“Council are investigating opportunities to provide access to a variety of places and spaces in our town centres to support creative practitioners and would like to hear from individual artists, collectives or community groups wishing to use these places to create art, showcase their work or run community workshops.”

Expressions of interest are now being sought from creatives of any visual medium - including arts and crafts, ceramics, sculpture, photography, printmaking, textile and fashion, filmmaking, and other innovative visual art installations. 

These spaces are located in high traffic areas and available on a ‘pop-up’ temporary, casual or semi-permanent basis.

Mayor Lisa Matthews said this project is a chance for creatives to develop their practice and take up this opportunity to create, display and promote their work in the parameters that COVID-19 restrictions allow.

“This Council initiative will not only support our local artists and creative industry but will also provide a boost to the local economy by helping to create vibrant town centres brimming with cultural vitality to attract both residents and visitors,” Mayor Matthews said.

In the meantime, Council has been working with commercial property owners and real estate agents to decorate vacant shop windows with creative decals which visually highlight the area’s key features and attractions. Eagle eyed residents may have already spotted these displays at Woy Woy, The Entrance, Wyong, Gosford and Budgewoi.

For more information on the creative activation of vacant spaces and to submit your expression of interest, please contact Greg Combes at Council by email gregory.combes@centralcoast.nsw.gov.au or call 0408 807 758.

To view this and other open Council Expressions of Interest, go to www.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/council/news/eoi-open-creatives-to-fill-vacant-spaces