Speaker 1 00:04
With information on the latest developments in assistive technology and initiatives, from the studios of 2RPH in Sydney, RPH Australia brings you AbleQuest.
Speaker 1 00:22
Hello I'm Barbara Sullivan. Today on AbleQuest we're going to hear more about a not-for-profit organisation that delivers creative programs in visual arts, performing arts and life skills to adults living with a disability. Studio Artes was established in 2000 and is based in Sydney with two studios. However as a registered NDIS provider they provide services to over 250 people all over New South Wales. Members can create, develop and exhibit works in visual and performing arts as well as life skills such as reading, writing and cooking. ChoppA Green, the manager of Studio Artes Hornsby, spoke with Marnie Roper.
Speaker 3 01:08
Welcome to AbleQuest ChoppA. Nice to have you with us today. You're the studio manager at Studio Artes in Hornsby. Watch leaves your background.
Speaker 2 01:17
I'll give you a quick run-through to how to condense 30 years into a couple of sentences. I have a nephew with disabilities and I started volunteering at his school and that led to me being at support work for many years, which then led me to childcare and then I left childcare to start here at City Arts.
Speaker 3 01:34
Well, that's a nice background. I knew telling us earlier you also worked on a radio station.
Speaker 2 01:40
I did, that's how I fell into the earlier stages of volunteering.
Speaker 3 01:43
Great. You provide a creative programs across two studios, you're at the Hornsby One, in visual and performing arts as well as life skills for adults living with a disability. Do the studios need to have special setups for varying disabilities?
Speaker 2 01:59
I wouldn't say we have special setups, but we do have tools that aid people that would need, like a table raising or if they're painting something flat, it'll give a slight angle. I also want to say we have three studios. We have an invite only studio and a studio in the inner west and one at Hornsby.
Speaker 3 02:17
Well, the two studios are pretty similarly set up.
Speaker 2 02:20
Our two studios, the one in West Anahorn v, they're our day programs and then there's another one Studio A which is for your more career -focused artist with disabilities.
Speaker 3 02:30
Oh, okay. And how many members do you have?
Speaker 2 02:33
Across the three locations, we currently have roughly 250.
Speaker 3 02:37
Gosh, that's a lot, isn't it? And some of them long -term?
Speaker 2 02:40
The majority of some of our members have been with us for 20 years.
Speaker 3 02:43
Oh, how marvellous. Oh, that's marvellous. And are you a registered NDIS provider?
Speaker 2 02:49
We sure are.
Speaker 3 02:50
So people can therefore put that on their program.
Speaker 2 02:54
Yes, you can come and sign up and use your N &OF funding and we can help you out with that and help you advance in your art and performing career.
Speaker 3 03:02
And are the programs only group-based?
Speaker 2 03:05
We have a varied range of programs at typical nine to three day sessions. We also have some hybrid sessions, which is quite unique. We have an in-house session that runs and people can tune in online and it's very interactive between the members at home and the members in the studio. And we also offer some extension art-based programs online after hours.
Speaker 3 03:27
And so therefore it's not just people who come to the studio, people can do it all over New South Wales, presumably.
Speaker 2 03:34
Yeah, we had some members that moved away during COVID but obviously have a deep connection to the service and they've stayed with us online. We actually had a lovely story of a member that had to move away, came back in to visit and because of that online program the connection was still there and everyone was so excited to see them.
Speaker 3 03:50
And is it only for the art or can you do the dance as well?
Speaker 2 03:55
There is online art there and I believe music.
Speaker 3 03:59
Well, let's talk about the visual arts, what's available.
Speaker 2 04:02
Oh, as we're a member-focused service, our programs are, you know, heavily developed with our members. So, whatever their art practice is, just here in Hornsby, we have sculptors, painters, waivers, mixed medium artists. It really depends on where they want to go and we help facilitate that.
Speaker 3 04:20
And so can they do things like pottery as well, Clay?
Speaker 2 04:23
We are looking to implement a new ceramics course.
Speaker 3 04:27
Right, and you'd need the oven and things then, wouldn't you? Whatever the oven's called.
Speaker 2 04:31
That's one of the little hurdles that we're trying to get around, hopefully collaborate with a local kiln, but that's all in the work.
Speaker 3 04:38
And what about photography? Do you do that?
Speaker 2 04:41
We do have a photography session at both services in the West and here in Hornsby which is incredible just to watch the members use various technologies. I've noticed they did a whole investigation into kaleidoscope and some of the work is just stunningly beautiful and they're photographing very simple objects and just using light and shadows and contrasts. It's a beautiful work.
Speaker 3 05:02
And then can you actually print the photographs on the premises?
Speaker 2 05:06
We do. We actually have them displayed up in the room. We've also used them across social media and promotional items, a very cool collaborative service.
Speaker 3 05:16
And they're learning something completely new from just taking the photos as well, aren't they?
Speaker 2 05:21
Yeah, it's developing the passion for it and opening up to new skills and technique and that's something that we're quite proud of.
Speaker 3 05:27
And you said that the works were displayed. Are they displayed sort of outside the studio in any way? You know, do you have like an art gallery or a gallery that displays them?
Speaker 2 05:37
We actually hold exhibitions. Since I've been here we've held three of them. One was last year in collaboration with the Hornsby Council. The inner west just did a one called Draw Space where they had a little local gallery and over 50% of the artwork was sold so the members are able to present their artwork and sell them and develop a name for themselves.
Speaker 3 05:56
And I think I spotted an online shop as well.
Speaker 2 05:59
We do. We actually, if you've ever visited our service in Hornsby, we have just way cases out the front. When women are so proud of something, they can put it up for sale and they choose their pricing and it's just on display. Actually, I often have visitors come in and see something and they're like, oh, I must have this. And then they will purchase on the spot.
Speaker 3 06:16
Right. I saw that the online shop was very competitively priced, that some of the things were just lovely.
Speaker 2 06:22
There are some really beautiful work. The earrings. Oh, everything you can imagine. Like the t -shirts that have died. The handcrafted goods. The painting.
Speaker 3 06:33
Now you also have the performing arts program. Tell me about that.
Speaker 2 06:39
That's actually a really interesting one something that I was surprised with when I started is we hold a mid-year show every year And then it's for the end of the year. There's also a ball and the media show last year was two and a half hours long Where the members created scenes and sets and choreographed performances and we sell tickets to the public and it's a really good night for everyone It gives the members such a uplifting boost to be able to put on stage and perform a show They did a matinee and then an evening show which was incredible and our ball is more of a sit-down dinner with a small performance And then I just go afterwards.
Speaker 3 07:15
And let's just run through, you do music, does that mean you actually teach them an instrument or voice or what?
Speaker 2 07:22
The members will learn to use the music here. We have a very talented music producer here that has helped the swamp dog produce two EPs and that's the music extension program. Trust those, they do get a good range of instruments, play and learn.
Speaker 3 07:35
And dance, it's similar - they just various forms of dance is it?
Speaker 2 07:40
Yeah, we've got our normal day programs that are the dance and then we also have one that's called ensemble Which is where they learn correct dance to technique and that's when we spot and realise talent or someone who's driven towards dance Well, that's their chosen medium and they work very closely and we often get invited to do performances locally That's that little team that we send out to be a representative.
Speaker 3 08:03
And close to your heart, I see film and radio on there. Do you have anything to do with the radio bit?
Speaker 2 08:10
I haven't as yet because I'm lucky enough that I come into this with a creative background as well and one of the things is I run a food technology program and I have a background in social media and cake decorating online which was quite successful and I bring that into the studio and we do lots of exploration into food science and it's not just cooking it's more about the nitty gritty of how you develop something and when you bake it with the wrong ingredients etc - it's just super fun.
Speaker 3 08:39
Well, we'll come to that later when we do the life skills. We'll get more into that. But back to the performing arts. It's not just front of stage, is it? You cover things like costuming and prop making.
Speaker 2 08:50
We actually have a session called Puppetry& Props and across the service itself like the art team really get together and make up the, as I mentioned with the media show, there's the costuming, there's the props, there's the staging and it's just collaborative all around. Some of the members have crossover, some that do the performing arts will also do art as well, so they get to really get their hands in every part of it.
Speaker 3 09:12
And so do you have like a woodworking shop? Do you have that sort of thing? Is that how you make the props?
Speaker 2 09:17
Generally, it's more construction from cardboard and dowel and not necessarily woodwork. I can tell you, we've done foam sculpting, we've done massive cardboard constructions, and it's very involved.
Speaker 3 09:30
Well, let's go back to the life skills and the cooking and so therefore this allows people to be independent, doesn't it?
Speaker 2 09:37
Oh, very much so, because we have a couple of cooking sessions and some focus on the recipe structure and how to start with preparing the meal, cooking it, and then serving it. And then I mentioned my food tech one, which is more about the science of food. So it's less about producing a meal, but more about learning a couple of weeks ago we did an exploration into eggs and how you can use them for poaching, whipping, desserts, meringue, fried eggs. It was just a whole session based on what can you do with an egg and what are the properties of it.
Speaker 3 10:09
And then you've got gardening. So do you actually do gardening or do you talk about, you know, things that could be used in your cooking from the garden or?
Speaker 2 10:18
We don't currently have that one at Hornsby. That's over in the inner west and I know they are looking to reach out and collaborate locally over there to get gardens happening. We are also looking into Hornsby at the moment but that's all in the works and I'll say too much.
Speaker 3 10:32
Be part of a community garden.
Speaker 2 10:35
Couple of local companies that we do work alongside quite closely and we're trying to develop a program where they go and attend a garden and help run that for them.
Speaker 3 10:44
And another life skill that you've got is sport and fitness, so apart from the dance, of course, what do you do?
Speaker 2 10:51
Our parks and recreation, whether we go out into the community, they'll often go and make use of local parks and play cricket, soccer, football. There's been an array of different activities that we go do, tennis, they'll go bushwalking. It's just a way to get out and use our local community and be seen and be present.
Speaker 3 11:09
And one that's really, really important for independence is you do literacy and numeracy classes.
Speaker 2 11:15
Yes, that's run by the founder actually, Wendy Escott.
Speaker 3 11:18
So that helps them in everything. Reading your recipes, for instance.
Speaker 2 11:22
They do lots of amazing topics. Sometimes they'll research a country. They'll do guilds of learning how to shop and what change they get and identifying the amount of money that they would have. It's such a fun session. I've actually sat in on quite a few of them.
Speaker 3 11:37
And finally, there are two extension programs you mentioned. One is a dance one called The Ensemble.
Speaker 2 11:44
That's our dance group where if a member has a very specific interest in dance and they show talent and skill, we develop this program that they are invited into and then they work with facilitators who are dance instructors and put on shows locally and they just do more focus like dance technique, learning intricate choreography, very much focused on talent and skill and technique.
Speaker 3 12:10
And the other one's the music with a rock band with a great name, the Swamp Dogs.
Speaker 2 12:15
The Swamp Dogs are awesome. They performed at one of our expeditions. They also have done a few gigs up on the Central Coast at Lincoln Pin, I believe. They're such a ball of energy and it's really cool to see them perform.
Speaker 3 12:28
How many are in the band?
Speaker 2 12:30
There's currently four band members and lead singer, drum, bass guitar and lead guitar.
Speaker 3 12:36
Fabulous. Well, we'll have to look out for them. Now, ChoppA, if our listeners are interested in becoming a member of Studio Artes as a participant or assisting in any way, what is the best way of contacting you?
Speaker 2 12:48
You can look us up online, we have our website, studioartes.org au, and that's art with a - r - t - e - s. Or you can call our studios, check it out on Google, look up Studio Artes and you can find our numbers, and we'd be happy to help arrange a tour and show you what we have to offer.
Speaker 3 13:06
And I guess you're always interested in people who are there to offer their services as well as volunteers.
Speaker 2 13:12
Ah, 100%. You can also check us out on our socials. We are becoming very present on social media just to show everybody what we do and how much fun we have here.
Speaker 3 13:22
I've just been speaking with ChoppA Green from Studio Artes. He also told us that they have a show in late June at the Hornsby RSL with the theme The Solstice. Details are on their website.
Speaker 1 13:43
You have just been listening to AbleQuest, a program that looks at developments in assistive technology and initiatives. From Barbara Sullivan and Marnie Roper, thank you for listening and goodbye till next program.
