Artful women gear up for another big year

Art-Full Women (AFW) is gearing up for another year of activity.

The group has been running a wide range of low-cost workshops and social events on the Peninsula, enriching the lives of local older women for the past four years.

Apart from the monthly coffee mornings, in 2024 there were regular workshops in singing, drumming, belly-dancing, tap, ukelele and theatre skills.

Craft abd visual arts workshops were also held, with specialists volunteering their time to teach their particular skill.

The group recently received a Community Development Grant from Central Coast Council.

The $17,853 grant is for a new project – Recollect -which will begin early this year.

Creative Producer Brenda Logan said there will be a series of hands-on workshops facilitated by artists Lisa Mc Carthur-Edwards, Nicole de Mestre and Therese Gabriel Wilkins, who are all committed to reusing, repurposing and recycling.

“Participants will create artworks from material rescued from landfill,” Logan said.

“Natural materials will also be explored and woven in to the art.”

Women will be encouraged to share memories and stories inspired by the artworks being created, led by an experienced facilitator.

The program will culminate in a public exhibition/performance open to the wider community, towards the end of the year.

AFW’s ukelele group The Melalukas will perform at the event, along with drummers, belly dancers, singers and tap-dancers.

“It will be a wonderful celebration of older women on the Peninsula; no shrinking violets here,” Logan said.

Look for details of Recollect at www.artfullwomen.com.au in coming weeks.