A new winter arts and culture event, Creative Open, is about to spotlight the powerhouse of creative energy on the Northern Beaches.
The event will run over two weekends, Saturday 13 to Sunday 14 and Saturday 20 to Sunday 21 August.
Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan said this is an exciting new festival for Sydney's arts calendar.
“We are thrilled to have more than sixty local creative businesses involved.
“From studios, galleries, and music-makers to digital labs, designers, and bookshops, the local creative community is on board and ready to welcome people from across Sydney for two weekends of fun, curiosity, and gathering inspiration.
“That means visitors can choose their own adventure – see a new exhibition, join an artist studio tour, enjoy live music or see our local artists and designers in action.
"It’s a great opportunity to experience the very best of the Northern Beaches' creative culture." Mayor Regan said.
Council is supporting participating artists, venues, and businesses to deliver their events. The complete event program will be available in late July.
Follow Council's social media and website for more details.
Creative Open program highlights
Launch event: Happy Hour @ MAG&M
Fri 12 Aug, 5-8pm
Experience art, sounds, and words while you soak up the 2022 Environmental Art & Design Prize. Hear from fashion industry leaders as they discuss their practices, sustainability, and the slow fashion movement.
Venue: Manly Art Gallery & Museum
Cost: FREE, bookings not required
Open Studios
Sat 13, Sun 14 and Sat 20, Sun 21 Aug, 10am – 3pm
Go behind the scenes and discover the diverse range of artists and makers that call the Northern Beaches home; from designers, candle makers, painters, printmakers and sculptors to digital artists, jewellery makers, ceramicists, furniture makers, woodturners and more.
Venue: across the Northern Beaches
Cost: FREE, bookings not required
Meet the Artists/Designers
Sat 13 Aug 2 – 3pm at Manly Art Gallery & Museum
Sat 20 Aug, 2 – 3pm at Mona Vale Pop Up Gallery
Hear from exhibiting artists and designers about their works, inspirations and creative processes in this fast-paced program moving around the 2022 Environmental Art & Design Prize exhibition spaces.
Cost: FREE, bookings not required
Makers Takeover
Sat 13 Aug, 10am – 3pm
Local makers and designers take over the library with all things handmade including weaving, jewellery, ceramics, textiles, small artworks and homewares. Discover something unique and shop local at the Makers Takeover.
Venue: Manly Library
Cost: FREE, bookings not required
Weaving on the lawn with Ngumpie Weaving
Sat 14 Aug, 10am – 12pm TBC
Drop by and learn traditional weaving techniques with Tegan Murdock from Ngumpie Weaving.
Venue: Grass lawn in front of Manly Art Gallery & Museum
Cost: FREE, bookings not required
Element Ensemble soundscapes
Sat 13 Aug, 7-8pm
Immerse yourself in soundscapes and visual projections inspired by the local environment created by Element Ensemble, a three-piece improvisational music group.
Venue: Curl Curl Creative Space
Cost: Ticketed, bookings required
Slow making demonstrations
Sat 13 & Sun 14 Aug, various times
Kelli Stanbury (9R) and Ursula Kirby (Live Simply Ceramics) share the traditional processes of their slow craft practices, including hand stitching with leather, hand building and pottery wheel throwing.
Venue: Curl Curl Creative Space
Cost: FREE, bookings not required
Shuffle Studio installations
Sat 13 Aug, 4pm - midnight
Awaken your senses with this immersive audio-visual installation featuring motion sensors and real-time graphics designed and installed by Tony Funiciello (Aureal).
Venue: Shuffle Studio Brookvale
Cost: Ticketed TBC, Bookings required
Monoprint workshops
Sat 13 Aug, 11am – 2pm & Sun 14 Aug, 1 – 3.30pm
Join artist Frankie Morgan at the Art Bau table for a class in mono-printing, learn techniques and tricks of the trade to create your own original one-off prints.
Venue: Art Bau, Brookvale
Cost: Ticketed, bookings required
Q&A booth: Publishing and writing
Sat 13 Aug, individual session times between 10am – 4pm
Meet, interrogate and ask your questions about writing, editing, publishing, book layout designs, and much more at these writing & publishing mentoring consultations with local award-winning author Zena Shapter.
Venue: Harry Hartog Booksellers
Cost: Ticketed, bookings required
HAKE House of Art
Sat 13 & Sun 14 Aug 10am-4pm
Lots to explore at the HAKE House of Art, a double story loft home to a range of multidisciplinary creative businesses from bespoke framing to painters, photographers and fashion designers.
Venue: HAKE House of Art, Dee Why
Cost: FREE, bookings not required
Still-life painting with Joanna Gambotto
Sat 13 Aug, 11am-4.30pm & Sun 14 Aug, 10am-4pm
Breathe some life into your still-life! Artist Joanna Gambotto will guide you through a 2-day painting workshop sharing skills to reinvigorate your painting practice. Suitable for beginners and experienced painters.
Venue: Forest Community Arts Centre
Cost: Ticketed, bookings required
Underground Art Space – studios and workshops
Sat 13 & Sun 14 Aug, 10am – 4pm
Ticketed workshops at various times
Refill your creative cup at the Underground Art Space, exploring artist studios, participating in workshops and getting to know the artists in residence.
Venue: Sydney Road, Balgowlah
Cost: FREE to visit, bookings required for ticketed workshops
Batch Studio
Sat 13 & Sun 14 Aug, various times
Batch Studios are opening their doors, inviting you to see the processes behind their craft, with demonstrations showing you how to cast a sterling silver ring, using ancient sand casting techniques.
Venue: Batch Studios, Freshwater
Cost: Ticketed, bookings required
Zine making workshop
Sun 14 Aug, 1 – 3.30pm
Learn the skills to start self-publishing your own zine’s with artist Kat Shultz. Covering collage, printmaking, drawing and incorporating text in the design. All materials provided.
Venue: Manly Creative Library
Cost: Ticketed, bookings required
The Metaverse and NFTs
Wed 17 Aug, 6-8pm
Curious to know more about how art crosses over into technology and finance? Want to discover the world of NFTs (non-fungible tokens)? Here’s your place to start, with a presentation and conversation led by NFT/Metaverse experts Simo Leonelli, Sam Joel, Nick Bishop, and Mark Monfort.
Venue: Manly Art Gallery & Museum
Cost: FREE, bookings required
Baha’i Temple tours
Sat 20 & Sun 21 Aug, 10am-12pm
Spend your morning discovering the Baha’i House of Worship with an open tour of this distinct architectural landmark.
Venue: Baha’I Temple House of worship, Mona Vale
Cost: FREE, bookings not required
Zen Garden open weekend
Sat 20 & Sun 21 Aug, 10am-4pm
Purify your mind with the tranquillity of a Japanese garden visit and experience the rich culture of Japan with a Tea Ceremony.
Venue: Oriental grove, Terrey Hills
Cost: Ticketed, bookings required for Tea Ceremony
Rex Dupain exhibition
Sat 20 Aug, 12 - 4pm, opening drinks 2-4pm
A household name in Australian photography, Rex Dupain is exhibiting a new collection of works. Known for juxtaposing the built environment with the natural beauty that surrounds it the new work continues this theme to create an inspiring look at modern life.
Venue: Michael Reid Northern Beaches, Newport
Cost: FREE, no bookings required