To empower people with a disability by developing individual creativity and art making skills leading to opportunities for participation in exhibitions and pathways to professional development.

The Art in the Garage studio was started in 2001 as a direct response to unique arts abilities evident within a group of people with a disability at Tulgeen Disability Services during set building for a performance arts event. There was at that time no visual arts opportunities within the organisation other than conservative craft projects with designated and predetermined outcomes. A domestic garage was converted into an arts studio using recycled materials with volunteer labor to provide supported art making to four artists with a disability. Since then the project has continued to develop and expand to its current status.

The studio offers visual art making options to people over 18 years with an intellectual disability, acquired brain injury, limited mobility, impaired communication and sensory disabilities.

28 artists currently visit the studio weekly for sessions lasting from one to two hours.

For artists who are already clients of Tulgeen Disability Services there are informal experimental painting group opportunities. People who show enthusiasm and an interest in developing art making skills are encouraged to work in the Art in the Garage studio in a more intensive skills and creative development context. The process is reviewed after three months to evaluate if the studio context works for the artist. From there it is reviewed every six months.

The wages for the project coordinator, studio coordinator and three arts workers are funded by Ageing Disability and Home Care (ADAHC), NSW. A 30% commission on all art sales provides funding for art materials and ongoing exhibition costs. Funding for special projects such as murals, solo exhibitions, equipment and travel to exhibitions has been forthcoming from diverse philanthropic and arts funding bodies.

A sensitive, respectful and innovative approach to mentorship backed up by a strong knowledge of diverse art mediums. A strong focus on process with a selfless approach to outcomes. An ability to observe small and subtle elements that when nurtured can lead to important themes in an individual body of work. A genuine respect for the unique perspective and often-visceral approach to art making of artists with a disability.

Art in the Garage have produced several group exhibitions at the Bega Valley Shire Regional Gallery. Our long time relationship with the regions most respected and contemporary gallery has enabled us to build the profile of artists with a disability in our community. The series of exhibitions has radically shifted the community perspective from that of ‘people with a disability doing art’ to artists with a valued place in contemporary art making who are admired by fellow artists, curators and arts academics. The funds raised from art sales at these commercially successful exhibitions has provided significant income to many artists and through commission on art sales helped keep the project sustainable. The exhibition scheduled for August – September will be held in conjunction with the opening of three new studios adjoining the original garage site which will focus on opportunities in printmaking, ceramics and sculptural works. Visits to the studios are going to available through the gallery to see the new facilities meet artists and view the newly completed 3D mural funded by Regional Arts NSW.

1. Retaining an uncompromising arts focus

Retaining an uncompromising arts focus in a project that is part of a large organisation which has a strong culture of disability with few people who understand and support the needs, subtleties and complexities of providing a dynamic, sensitive and supportive arts project. We are attempting to address these challenges through a short and long term education process based on written documents outlining Art in the Garages core values, philosophy, strategies and goals.

2. Attracting and retaining dynamic arts workers

Attracting and retaining dynamic arts workers as the organisation insists the pay structure is based on disability standards and is too low to support part time practicing artists. We are attempting to address these challenges by lobbying for the acknowledgment and special skills necessary of an innovative arts workers by the organisation and promoting salaries more in line with the National Association of the Visual Arts. Also sourcing external funding to pay artists to prove value of specialist knowledge and skills.

3. Affordable and practical opportunities to exhibit art works outside of our immediate and surrounding regions.

We are attempting to address these challenges by looking for emerging opportunities with individual galleries and curators and try to source external funding to pay for exhibition costs in other regions.

Currently we do not have an artist who is making arts as a vocation. We currently support one artist who is increasing her studio times and is focused enough to be making a much fuller commitment to art making. We support several artists who’s incomes are substantially increased by their art making. Art in the Garage focuses on archiving individual bodies of work for everyone supported by the project with group and solo exhibitions as a goal. We are also strongly committed to look for way to enhance individual art making skills with pathways to professional development.

Additional space provided by our three new studios will provide us with the opportunities for diversifying into new the new art mediums of ceramics, printmaking and sculptural works. The increased studio space will also give us the opportunity to give studio access to new sectors of the community. Mental health is very keen to access our studio and team of arts workers to support clients in recovery. Also there has been a growing interest by in artists in the community wanting to work with artists with a disability and the new facilities will enable and promote opportunities for collaboration. We will apply for funding to bring in specialist artists in residencies that will provide mentorships and develop skills in new art mediums and look for ways to connect with other artists and wider audiences.