Atistic talent: GO Art artist Susan Meadows pictured with one of her many artworks.
The Goulburn Options art program fosters some incredible talent in its small group of participants.
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The artists are so talented, in fact, that several have been approached by a Melbourne gallery to sell their art.
Susan Meadows has been attending GO Art sessions for five years now and said it was a great program for her to focus on painting.
“I enjoy doing my paintings and drawing,” she said.
“Making art is my goal and I like selling my paintings.”
Goulburn Options creative arts co-ordinator Mandy Gloede began working at Goulburn Options in 2010 after working in an art studio for people with disability in Warrnambool.
She established the GO Art NDIS program after discovering some “untapped talent” in the service’s participants.
“I thought ‘oh my God, I’ve got to get these guys working on canvases’,” she said.
Since then, the program has grown to 15 participants who host art exhibitions, enter art competitions and post their art on a Facebook page that has followers from around the world.
“We started the Facebook page in response to the COVID-19 situation, because we just weren’t able to get our artists out into the community,” Ms Gloede said.
“And it just took off. I had to post a painting over to Canada last year.”
“It’s been really great exposure.”
Art for local businesses: Susan Meadows with one of her artworks created for the local business art rotation program.
Now, six of the participants have been approached by LOOM Arts and Management Melbourne to represent them.
Officially launched in 2020, LOOM co-executive director Hannah Reekie said the not-for-profit, disability-led organisation ran as a traditional talent agency, but was focused on bridging the gap in representation for artists with disability.
“We’re really excited to be representing the artists at GO Art,” she said.
“We were completely blown away with the raw talent.”
As part of the agency’s representation, six GO Art participants will have their artworks printed on merchandise like coffee mugs, tote bags and t-shirts.
Ms Reekie said it was an artist-led collaboration to provide them with some additional income from their creativity.
“We’re trying to give everyone a few products a year,” she said.
“And with the Seymour artists especially, it’s particularly artist-led.”
GO Art has also worked on creating a number of smaller artworks to showcase in local businesses across Mitchell Shire.
As part of the offer, businesses can pay $22 a month and receive a different piece of art each month to display.
The proceeds will go towards purchasing materials and equipment for the art program.
“We’re moving into a much bigger art studio so that we can expand our art program and invite more participants,” Ms Gloede said.
“We also want to get artworks into local businesses around town.”
For artists like Ms Meadows, it’s an exciting opportunity to keep making more art and seeing her pieces displayed in Melbourne.
“I’m happy about LOOM taking my art to Melbourne,” Ms Meadows said.
“I want to go to Melbourne to see my art one day.”
To get involved in the local art program, emailgoart@goinc.org.au
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