Five professional and two emerging local creatives have been selected to deliver innovative and contemporary new works as part of Central Coast Council’s ‘Creative Art Central’ program 2022/23.

Creative Art Central is an annual commissioning program which offers funds for established and emerging creatives of diverse disciplines living on the Central Coast. The program has been designed to inspire local creatives to deliver new and contemporary work that demonstrates a strong connection to community and opportunities for participation

Creative Art Central 2022/23 attracted 72 registrations from local creatives in diverse disciplines, who each had the opportunity to pitch their idea. The successful recipients were selected by an industry panel assessment, who recommended the commission of seven contemporary and creative projects that will engage, collaborate and/or involve the broader community.

Central Coast Council Unit Manager Community and Culture, Glenn Cannard, said Creative Art Central sought to foster innovative and contemporary work across all art-forms.

“Thank you to everyone who registered, the calibre of proposals pitched shows just how much talent and diversity we have on the Coast,” Mr Cannard said.

“A diverse mix of artists from a cross section of the industry have been selected this year to deliver contemporary works to help define our region as a cultural destination.

“Our seven successful creatives will now share their talents with the wider community.”

Congratulations to:

• Homebrewed – consisting of Eamonn Snow and Cameron Smith (professional)
• Lead by Story – Will Small (professional)
• Merran Winchester (professional)
• Sarah Staunton (professional)
• Casey Gray (emerging)
• Reed Plummer (professional)
• Christopher Diaz – consisting of Krystof Pelowski and Carlos Diaz (emerging)

Two of the successful recipients, Sarah Staunton and Christopher Diaz, have already started their projects. 

Sarah will be delivering an interactive community installation on Saturday 10 June between 9am-4pm on a wall behind the Box on the Water (playground side) along the Ettalong Esplanade. Christopher Diaz has commenced the production of a seahorse sculpture, referencing the significance of this locally endangered species. 

Council Administrator, Rik Hart said this fantastic annual commissioning program sees professional and emerging artists deliver a variety of new quality projects to help promote, celebrate and activate our region.

“Fostering artistic endeavours builds the footprint of creative industries on the Coast and delivers significant flow-on benefits for our social and economic fabric,” Mr Hart said.

“Creative Art Central invests in the local creative economy to not only nurture the growth of local artists but also strengthen creative industries on the Coast.”

Creative Art Central provides an important boost to creative industries on the Central Coast. Since its inception in 2011, the annual program has produced a range of new creative initiatives that have shaped our local culture.

Council would like to congratulate the 2022/23 recipients and thank all the artists who participated in this important initiative.

To find out more about the successful commissioned programs and how you can get involved visit: centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/creativeartcentral