A cultural sanctuary in the middle of suburbia
The Workshop Arts Centre (WAC) is an independent not-for-profit art centre and workshop facility established by the late Joy Ewart with assistance from fellow artists and supporters in 1961 to promote and foster appreciation in the creative and visual arts.
The Workshop's birth is an example of a challenge being met and turned into success by the enthusiasm, initiative and hard work of ordinary people who felt strongly enough about the need for a cultural establishment on the North side of the Harbour. In cultural terms, the WAC has established itself as a unique and valuable asset within the local and broader community.
WAC users have access to a wide range of professionally equipped studios. There are three large painting and drawing studios, as well as ceramics, printmaking, jewellery and sculpture studios. The WAC is also home to the Ewart gallery. The WAC is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee.
What does the Workshop Arts Centre do?
The Workshop Arts Centre provides an alternative to existing art schools and a supplement to existing art societies. The aim is to encourage and develop individual contemporary and challenging work in all fields of artistic expression. The WAC is supported in its aims and endeavours by a group of independent teaching artists. Today the WAC is a busy place where over thirty teaching and visiting artists offer first-rate tuition across some fifty classes each week, in the fine arts genres of painting, drawing, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture, photography, jewellery and children's art.
How is it funded?
The Workshop Arts Centre maintains itself from annual membership subscriptions, studio hire fees from teachers and artists, income from gallery hire and sales from the Ewart Gallery. These have always been supplemented by fundraising functions and donations.
All donations of $2.00 or more are tax deductible.
Contact the centre for more information >
Is there a membership requirement?
Membership is available to all and is separate from student enrolment into a class. Becoming a member of the Workshop Arts Centre entitles you to many benefits.
Can I be sure of receiving quality teaching?
The teaching artists at the Workshop Arts Centre are highly qualified (usually Masters in Fine Arts) with many years of teaching experience and as practicing artists and exhibitors. Visiting artist's workshops and master classes are also held throughout the year, offering intensive weekend or longer workshops in specific areas of expertise. The Workshop Arts Centre prides itself in continual growth. The WAC offers a creative community in which established and emerging artists can support, inspire and challenge one another.
The high standards attained by students in art prizes in Australia and international competition is testament to the quality of tuition at the WAC.
Can I exhibit?
The Ewart Gallery was named in honour of the Workshop Art Centre's founding member, the late Joy Ewart. The exhibition program includes works of visiting artists, members, students and teachers, some of whom are represented in prestigious collections both in Australia and overseas. The exhibitions committee welcomes exhibition proposals from individuals and groups of artists to contribute to a diverse program across a range of disciplines.
Download Hirers Information Kit and Exhibition Proposal >
Where can I find more information?
The Ewart Gallery is open Monday - Friday 9.30am to 4.30pm, Saturday 10am to 3pm. The office is open Monday - Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm.
Workshop Arts Centre membership
Annual membership of the Workshop Arts Centre is an opportunity to support, contribute and be involved in a not-for-profit organisation which fosters and promotes appreciation of the creative and visual arts. Your membership contributes to the on-going operation and maintenance of the Centre.
- Benefits of membership are:
- Quarterly Newsletter giving you arts information, reviews, advance notice of new classes, workshops and master classes, special events and exhibitions.
- Opportunity to exhibit work in the EWART Art Prize.
- Discounts on arts supplies and framing at participating stores including Oxford Art Supplies, Eckersleys, Hardware Gallery, Newport Artworks, The Sydney Art Store, A & E Metal Merchants and Frame 88.
- Members have access to studio hire (when available) to practice their art.
- Members have borrowing rights for the Joy Ewart Remembrance Library
See a list of sponsors that offer discounts to WAC members >
Board
The Workshop Arts Centre is governed by an honourary Board of Directors elected annually by the membership.
The Board is drawn from WAC membership. The Board is comprised of representatives from teachers, students, and community members from the business and arts sector.
The Board meetings are held monthly and the Annual General Meeting is held in May.
Current Board Members
- Kerwayne Berry
- Kate Cox
- Lalor Curran
- Nathan Gyaneshwar
- Jennifer Hardwick
- Brian Manning
- Jan Shaw
- Robyn Stutchbury
- Bronwen Wade Leeuwen
Staff
The office is run by a full-time Arts Administrator and Office Administrator.
The office is open Monday to Friday, 9.00am-5.00pm.
The realisation of a dream
Almost fifty years after its inception, the Workshop Arts Centre is an exciting and thriving hub of creativity for artists of all ages - from children to adults, in numerous genres. From its modest beginnings, it now has classes in painting, drawing, ceramics, life drawing, photography, printmaking, jewellery, botanical art, sculpture and children's art. Over 30 professional exhibiting artists teach and join students in exhibitions in the Ewart Gallery.
The founder, Joy Ewart (born 1916), was a teacher and artist, and after she made two trips overseas in 1949 and in 1959 as a Fulbright scholar, was inspired by what she experienced to start an arts centre in Sydney, embracing all the visual arts. In 1955 she opened a painting studio in Chatswood, where her love for encouraging creativity was realised with practical art classes for adults, adolescents and children. On her return to Australia in 1960, after researching graphic arts overseas, she set up presses for lithography and etching in her Chatswood studio, making it the only open access studio for printmakers in Sydney.
The concept of a centre embracing all the visual arts was adopted by fellow artists, students and friends, and a committee was formed on 5 June 1961 - the North Shore Workshop Arts Centre, (changed in 1965 to the Workshop Arts Centre), with Joy Ewart as Honorary Art Director. Membership subscriptions were accepted and fund-raising began. By 1962 the donations of one hundred members helped with both rent and studio costs. A disused furrier's warehouse at 33 Laurel Street was chosen as suitable premises in 1963 and has remained the home of the Workshop Arts Centre ever since.
The lease was signed, and after much cleaning and some structural alterations, classes began in painting, then sculpture and pottery. A lithography press was transferred from Joy Ewart's old studio and used to set up the first fine printmaking workshop in New South Wales. An appeal to members and students made it possible to buy the building with the aid of a bank loan, thus ensuring the future of the Centre.
Sadly Joy Ewart, whose health had not been good throughout her life, died on 4 July 1964, aged 47. She had laboured ceaselessly to release the creative spirit dormant in everyone, bringing back community arts into public consciousness in a powerful and exciting way.
The Workshop Arts Centre was a model for many new arts centres in the 1970's, although it is different from many other art centres in that it is a self-funded institution. We aim to incorporate teaching in all art forms, develop critical awareness of formal aesthetic values and develop technical ability - all as a foundation for the expression of ideas.
Joy chose as the Centre's motto, Voltaire's statement: "All arts are brothers, each a light unto the other".
Today the Workshop Arts Centre is a living, growing testimonial to the indomitable spirit and inspiration of a frail woman who had the rare gift of being able to pass on an original vision to others, so that they may share the joy known to those who create.
Studios
WAC users have access to a wide range of professionally equipped studios. There are three large painting and drawing studios, as well as ceramics, printmaking, jewellery and sculpture studios.
Contact the office for information on studios and membership >
Limited Hire facilities
Members may hire studios when classes are not in session. Studio hire is only available to members. Please contact the WAC for details.
Contact the office for information on studios and membership >
Visiting artists program
The Workshop Arts Centre is fortunate to have a number of highly acclaimed artists offering workshops throughout the year, offering intensive weekend or longer workshops in specific areas of expertise.
Joy Ewart Remembrance Library
Members have borrowing rights for the Joy Ewart Remembrance Library.
Workshop Film Group
A Member of the Federation of New South Wales & Associated Film Societies.
Annual membership includes all films and supper: $50 single / $75 double.
Screenings on the first and third Fridays of the month at 8.00pm at the Workshop Arts Centre, in Studio One, 33 Laurel Street Willoughby
After forty years, the group remains dedicated to increasing the awareness and appreciation of the seventh art by presenting a wide variety of feature films, shorts and documentaries. Presentations begin at 8.00pm with an introduction to the film, with screenings followed by light refreshments and an often lively discussion.
Since 1975, the group has also organised an annual residential film evening during the October long weekend. This year's 33rd Residential Film Weekend will be held at the Metropole Guesthouse in Katoomba.
For further information:
Email: himself@ozemail.com.au
Phone: 02 9880 9335 or 02 9564 5258
Visit the Film Group's external site www.workshopfilmgroup.net >