Sustainable Housing for Artists and Creatives (SHAC) is a unique creative community near Fremantle, opening its doors to the public with a series of events that run from 18 May until 2 June.
SHAC, in partnership with Access Housing Australia, is part of the new WGV Eco Village in White Gum Valley. The cooperative features homes specifically designed for artists and creatives, and two new creative studios CoLab 1 and CoLab 2, are open to the community to hire.
WGV is internationally endorsed as a One Planet Living Community, only the 11th project in the world to receive this recognition for sustainable living.
SHACtivate! is now officially launched. Each weekend from 18 May SHACtivate! has a different creative focus. It kicked off with activities coordinated by SHAC members including a free family concert with puppetry and live music on Saturday 18 May.
Emerging young creatives occupy the space with sound installations and street art from 24-26 May.
SHAC’s associate Noongar artists will display visual art, and perform dance and traditional storytelling 31 May -2 June.
The inaugural exhibition of resident SHAC artist’s work, ‘Imagine More’ runs from 17 to 26 May.
This is followed by ‘Kwobidok Yorga’, an exhibition of Noongar Women Artists from 31 May to 10 June.
The Shactivate! Programme and exhibitions are made possible thanks to funding from the City of Fremantle.
SHAC Chair, Koral Ward explains; “Rising property prices and a crisis in affordable rental space, led to a group of Fremantle artists forming SHAC. We aim to make it possible for artists to remain living and working in affordable, sustainable housing and to help secure Fremantle’s reputation as a centre of creativity and the arts. Over nine years of hard work by members and associates has resulted in the establishment of affordable artist housing and the two new creative studios Co Lab 1 and Co Lab 2. SHACtivate! is a wonderful way to introduce ourselves and our vision to the wider community.”
Koral also says that SHAC are looking for new members, professional artists and creative practitioners to join and support the vision to sustain the artistic heritage and creative identity of Fremantle through securing permanent affordable housing and creative spaces.
SHAC was funded and developed with the support of City of Fremantle, Landcorp, Access Housing, Josh Byrne & Assoc, and Architecture Studio (formerly Donaldson Warn Architects).
For more information and to book coming events, see the full SHACtivate! programme at www.shacfreo.com
Booking for artist workshops, family events, performances at https://www.trybooking.com
SHAC is located at 3 Cower Mews, White Gum Valley, near Fremantle.
