This project led by our U City artist in residence, Claire Wildish is multifaceted, providing workshops to Uniting Communities services, as well as allowing for “drop in creative expression” for the general public. The open studio format allows workshop participants to explore their own creative projects, be mentored by professional artists as well as get involved with exhibitions and community arts projects. This year our workshops have included weaving, felting, jewellery, mosaics, mask making, lino, and acrylics.

The project was initially a seven month residency (funded by Wellbeing SA), that has now expanded and works with fourteen Uniting Communities community groups and services including; our Retirement Residents, Streetlink, New ROADS, Newpin, Ruby’s Reunification Program, Bfriend, Aboriginal Community Connect, and Family Mental Health Support Services, to name a few.

Claire is so immensely proud of what has been created at U City and for the participants to meet, connect and create, she says;

“Through art people are finding connection, friendship and even new purpose in their life.  From learning to catch the bus for the first time just so they can go to art each week to finding their voice through poetry, pottery and paint. This is who we are...supporting and growing a safe creative place for strangers to meet, connect, make and create”.

The art studio creates safe places for people and communities to express themselves through art and conversation.

"You always let us be completely ourselves no matter what that looked like - the messy, the ugly and the beautiful. You have always created such a safe space for us, and I know that for myself and others this was the first safe space we have experienced. That is something that I get to treasure forever”, U City Art Project participant.

The highly coveted arts and culture industry awards, presented each year by DPC is also an outstanding opportunity for U City, as it showcases, how it is a vibrant, integrated vertical community that brings together residential, social, commercial and community services to establish a sustainable, inclusive, and thriving community in the heart of the city.

Guildhouse has supported Claire as a practicing artist and nominated the project for these outstanding awards, the winners will be announced on November 25, at a special invite only event.

(This project was funded under the South Australian Government Statewide Wellbeing Strategy, led by Wellbeing SA).

Read an inspirational article published by InDaily last year.