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Geelong Artisans Group |
Information
Our purpose is
· to share our knowledge and expertise with like minded people
· to make information available to those who would like to know more of what we do
Who
Group members of the Geelong Artisans Group to date are:
· Geelong & District Porcelain Painters
· Geelong Patchwork & Quilters Guild
· Leopold Lacemakers
· The Bead Society – Geelong Branch
· The Embroiderers Guild of Vic – Geelong Branch
· The Geelong Handspinners & Weavers
· Trolly Dolly Cloth Doll Club Inc
How it started
The Johnston Collection in East Melbourne approached the Embroiderers Guild of Victoria (Geelong Branch) and a number of Art & Craft groups in the Greater Geelong Region, to take up the challenge of decorating Fairhall House Museum for Christmas 2009.
As part of the preparation, the various groups met every few months in Geelong with representatives from The Johnston Collection for discussion and progress reports.
It was a marvellous opportunity to find out about other groups in our region, to see the sort of work they produce and the high standard of workmanship. Lots of us are interested in more than just one type of work and a number already belong to more than one group. Above all, we enjoyed getting together with a common purpose.
Greater Geelong is a very large area. It seemed a shame that the contacts, the awareness and the opportunities for cross-pollination of ideas and cross-promotion, should dwindle away after the Christmas 2009 exhibition finished.
What If …
… we started up a group to keep the contacts and the opportunities alive …
How it works
Formalities and legalities: The group name has been registered, a bank account opened, contact made with a group who may auspice us when appropriate, incorporation is being investigated and a Memorandum of Understanding has been drawn up.
Meetings are held as required, at present bi-monthly.
The committee is to be made up of 2 members from each of the Artisan groups. The positions of President, Treasurer and Secretary have all been filled. The role of other committee members is, in the main, to report back to their individual groups or guilds.
When an event is coming up, we all share in the planning and provide pieces from our ‘stashes’.
Aims – To work together
to promote the talents of the groups and of individual members
to exhibit works at various venues
to share information
to share expertise
What’s Coming Up
Information is being shared between groups about classes and seminars.
We will again be decorating Barwon Grange, a National Trust property in Newtown, for the Christmas period, from December 2nd to the end of January. Once again, it has been part of the joy of the planning stage that an idea for decoration springs into the mind of a member from one of the groups, and before we can blink “it is all happening!”
We may have a small representation at the Pako Festival in February 2012.
We are planning a joint exhibition at the end of 2012.
Why the Geelong Patchwork & Quilters’ Guild should belong
This is a golden opportunity to give and to receive.
We are the largest art/craft group in the region with around 180 members.
Who
Our representatives - Jeanette Whillance, Marg Walker & Pat Norton - will keep our committee and members in touch with what is happening at Geelong Artisans Group.
Where
The next meeting of the Geelong Artisans Group will be held at St David’s Uniting Church Hall in Newtown on Friday, August 5th at 10am.