Centre gives arts feast

By Ed Merrison
TWO sell-out shows in as many months and the recent appointment of a new coordinator are signs of exciting times for Knox’s community arts centres, according to Knox City Council.
Knox mayor David Cooper said the community had responded to recent productions, with April’s performance of Hotel Sorrento and a May visit from the Melbourne Comedy Roadshow pulling capacity audiences.
“The excellent cultural programming at our arts centres means you don’t have to travel into the city or even neighbouring municipalities to enjoy a great night at the theatre or become involved in the performing and visual arts,” he said.
Council community services director, Gerard José, also looked forward to the future under the direction of recently appointed coordinator, Richard Mitchell.
Coordinator for both the Knox Community Arts Centre and the Ferntree Gully Community Arts Centre, Mr Mitchell is a visual artist with 14 years of experience in theatrical and television production management.
“Richard’s creative vision is taking both arts centres in new directions, offering our community and those across the eastern region dynamic and exciting performing and visual arts experiences here in Knox,” Mr José said.
Mr Mitchell said he hoped to use industry contacts to bring high-profile artists to the region while building on the strong base of artistic talent in the Hills.
“It’s about introducing a whole new range of programs to encourage more people to get into the arts through the centres. It’s about finding out what people want to do and putting it on for them,” he said.
Mr Mitchell is looking forward to working in partnership with Burrinja, with a two-for-one offer linking Indigenous music theatre piece Burning Embers, which comes to Knox in August, with Yorta Yorta play Yanagai! Yanagai! at Burrinja in September.
Mr Mitchell said Knox Community Arts Centre’s focus on performing arts would be expanding to include contemporary music via workshops, classes, performances and special events.
Meanwhile, the Ferntree Gully centre will continue to be a hub for the visual arts while also introducing music programs with a particular emphasis on world music.
Both centres will seek to attract more younger residents, and will be offering new six-week workshop series to complement longer programs of up to 11 weeks.
New courses include animation for kids, personal development through art, slide guitar, songwriting and a career-oriented course about getting into the music industry.
“We’ve got chainsaw-carving demonstrations, animation workshops, an afternoon with John Spooner, the political cartoonist from The Age, we’ve got feng shui. Nothing like this has been done before,” Mr Mitchell said.
Knox residents seeking further information can find it at www.knox.vic.gov.au or by emailing knoxarts@knox.vic.gov.au to be added to a mailing list.
Information is also available from Knox Community Arts Centre on 9729 7287 or Ferntree Gully Community Arts Centre on 03 9758 9180.