genU Board Chair Ingrid Williams and CEO Clare Amies recently spent time at the Eastern Hub community centre in East Geelong, Victoria with genU artists who entered artX Regional 2024. It was an opportunity for Ingrid and Clare to hear what drives genU clients to participate in art programs. A tour of the exhibition that becomes the annual ‘artbeat’ of the thriving community hub was also part of the day.
“Listening to the artists talk passionately about their work shows how much it means to them,” Clare said. “Ingrid and I were grateful for everyone taking the time to host us and talk about the fantastic artwork displayed in the Rachinger Gallery.”
genU is behind the Eastern Hub, James Street Gallery and the Cox Road Art program in Corio. Clare said supporting people with disability to express their creativity was an important part of genU’s mission to empower people to reach their full potential.
“We are proud to facilitate the art groups, which make such a difference in people’s lives, as a creative outlet and to help build inclusive communities,” Clare said. “Hearing how the artists benefit from our programs is positive reinforcement for the work we do at genU every day.”
Walking around the Hub, Clare and Ingrid praised the outstanding quality and variety of artworks on display. “It’s obvious the artwork comes from the heart, and we feel blessed to have so many artists willing to share their creative work with our community,” Clare said.
Clare said artX Regional was an important initiative to help encourage people with disability or mental health conditions to follow their creative pursuits and display their work publicly. “We know that connecting artX Regional entrants to mainstream artists and audiences can improve self-esteem and further help to break down barriers that can exist between the mainstream and disability art communities,” she said.
artX Regional 2024 winner Hannah Wilkinson’s artwork ‘Untitled’ is now hanging in the genU artX Hall of Fame.
Entries open for artX Metro 2024
The next exhibition on the genU arts calendar is artX Metro 2024. It runs from 16-22 September at the Darebin Arts & Entertainment Centre in Preston. Entries are now open for artists living with disability or a history of mental illness in Metro Melbourne. Submissions can be taken to genU Northcote (Attention to Vicki Barker) at 30 Union Street, Northcote, before 11 September.
While artX Regional is the largest artistic event on the creative calendar, the Eastern Hub community centre holds regular exhibitions in the Rachinger Gallery, which is open to the public six days a week. BrushStrokes II is currently showing, with popular photographer John Kelly returning to feature his latest work in August. James Street Gallery in Geelong also holds regular exhibitions, including at least five dedicated to James Street Gallery studio artists.
Find out more about genU’s Participate art programs on our website.
