Creative Communities

Building Creative Communities

Bendigo Venues and Event’s Creative Communities team supports and enables artists, creatives and communities to develop arts and cultural initiatives. The team values diversity and inclusion, encourages participation in the arts and promotes the health and wellbeing benefits of creativity and arts participation. Creative Communities delivers arts and cultural services through an annual arts program to contribute to the City of Greater Bendigo’s Community Vision 2021-2031

Greater Bendigo celebrates our diverse community. We are welcoming, sustainable and prosperous. Walking hand-in-hand with the Traditional Custodians of this land. Building on our rich heritage for a bright and happy future.

The cultural development programs are aligned with the various City plans and strategies e.g. Greater CREATIVE Bendigo, Community Plan, Cultural Diversity and Inclusion Plan and ‘Barpangu’ Reconciliation Plan 2021-2025.

The team is responsible for community arts, cultural development and ‘creative’ place making…including establishing a First Nations arts space lead by the First Nations Arts Officer. Current programs also include Artists on View, RAW Art Awards, Ground Level Temporary Public Art, Exhibit B Gallery, Pennyweight Walk Open Air Gallery and the much loved Cushion Concert series designed for pre-school children. In addition, the education and engagement program offers schools, families and the community the chance to engage with the touring artists who visit our venues in a variety of ways. 

Major (past) projects include, but are not limited to; Bendigo Projection Festival, Regional Centre for Cultural and most recently ‘Djaara Lights’.

Meet the team:

Maree Tonkin, Coordinator Creative Communities

Rohan Phillips, Arts Officer

Janet Bromley, Arts Officer First Nations

Cecile Shanahan, Education and Engagement Officer

Connect with the creative communities.

Creative spaces

Greater Bendigo is an arts and cultural hub where local artists, residents and visitors can experience and explore all that our ‘creative community’ has on offer through a range of creative spaces and events.  

If you’re looking for ways to connect with the arts community, see locally produced art or seeking space to host an exhibition, rehearsal and/or workshop space please download the Creative Spaces brochure. Hardcopy versions are available by contacting [email protected].