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 2023-24
Pictured left to right: Two representatives of Heartdancers, Alicia Gonzalez, Shellie Christian, Representative of Crommelin Native Arboretum Inc and Joshua Hallaran.
Central Coast Council’s Creative Art Central commissioning program received 70 registrations during the 2023-24 round from a range of local creatives across various artistic disciplines.
The five successful recipients of the 2023-24 round were:
Heartdancers
Artistry on Wheels – A Journey through Creativity
Partnering with My Dream Van Co to create a mobile stage, this project brings arts and culture to unexpected Central Coast locations, engaging communities through live performances and workshops from a culturally diverse context.
Alicia Gonzalez
"I've So Many Things to Tell You" – The Dining Dome Experience
This project is an immersive performance art initiative which is community centric; it's a celebration of creativity, community and the power of storytelling.
Shellie Christian
The Alba Tree
An ephemeral tree sculpture that will reflect the community’s interpretations and messages of adversity, rebirth and resilience.
Joshua Hallaran
The Art of Making Games
A professional development program supporting local gamers in the fundamentals of creating and developing games. Including opportunities to connect with National and Internationally renowned gamers.
Crommelin Native Arboretum Inc
Artist in Residence Initiative
An opportunity for an emerging and established artist to work in situ to produce a new work, alongside a public program as part of the annual Ephemeral Art Trail.
Final projects will be delivered by 30 June 2027.
Creative Art Central 2022-23
Pictured left to right: Carlos Diaz, Casey Gray, Krzysztof Pekowski, Merran Winchester, Sarah Staunton, Will Small, Eamonn Snow, Cameron Smith, Reed Plummer (Photography by Mike Wolfe. Venue: Edogawa Commemorative Garden, Gosford Regional Gallery).
In 2022-23 Central Coast Council received 71 applications from a diverse range of local creatives across a wide range of creative disciplines.
The 2022-23 successful recipients were:
Professional category
- Homebrewed Radio - Cameron Smith / Eamonn Snow, Homebrewed Studio Sessions (radio / video)
check out their first three sessions:
Tessa Thames
Winterbourne
Pilot Buffalo - Will Small / Lead by Story - This is How We Survive (poetry / video)
- Sarah Staunton - Make Love Bloom (interactive Art Installation)
- Merran Winchester - Saltwater Sounds (audio stories)
- Reed Plummer - True Nature (photography)
Emerging category
- Christopher Diaz - Carlos Diaz / Krzysztof Pekowski, If You Love Me, Save Me (sculpture)
- Casey Gray - Forging history: Let's make English Easy! (creative writing).
Final projects delivered by 30 June 2024.
Creative Art Central 2021-22
Pictured (left to right) Kaye Harrison, Amelia Foxton, Brigitta Oldereid, Andi Mether, Toni Houston, Sarah Beard and Aaron Trew.
In 2021-22 Central Coast Council received 94 applications from a diverse range of local creatives across a wide range of creative disciplines. The six successful recipients of the 2021/22 round were:
Professional category:
- Kaye Harrison of Treehouse Media – ‘Music Central’, documentary short film
- Andi Mether of Zest Events International Pty Ltd – ‘Look Mum, Watch Me’ all abilities sculptural commission
- Toni Houston of Toni Houston Media and Sarah Beard of Artesano Productions Pty Ltd – ‘Coasting, into the heart of Bouddi’, documentary short film
- Aaron Trew of AJ Trew – ‘Scoring Music for Film’, film scoring professional development project
Emerging category:
- Amelia Foxton – ‘Mother Tongue’, Feature length film
- Brigitta Oldereid of Brigitta Dance Projects – ‘Contemporary Coastal Dance’, choregoraphed new work.