The Southern Highlands Arts Trail celebrates the diversity of creative practice across the region, inviting visitors to step inside studios and spaces that nurture imagination. Among this year’s highlights is Creative Space Community Outreach, a vibrant and inclusive program that blends artmaking with community connection. Popping up at Highlands Community Centre in Bowral, this welcoming initiative transforms the everyday into something extraordinary.

What to Expect at Creative Space Community Outreach

Described as a “veritable Aladdin’s Cave” by Southern Tablelands Arts Executive Director Rose Marin, Creative Space is renowned for its colour, movement and storytelling. During the Arts Trail, the program will bring its relaxed and accessible atmosphere to the charming Highlands Community Centre at 2 Mona Road, Bowral.

Visitors can explore a mix of rooms and outdoor spaces filled with artworks that reflect the spirit of community creativity. Small, detailed pieces sit comfortably alongside paintings, collages and mixed media works on a larger scale. The display is as diverse as the people who contribute to it – beginners and emerging makers, casual creators and those on a more professional artistic path.

Adding to the experience, Creative Space will be running daily workshops from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. These drop-in sessions allow visitors to join in, experiment with materials, and experience first-hand the joy of creative making.

New Highlights for 2025

This year, Creative Space is excited to feature work from All Mobs Creative, a local collective based at the Wingecarribee Aboriginal Community Centre. Their contributions will include high-quality prints, contemporary painting and colourful weaving.

As part of their involvement, All Mobs Creative will also run a drop-in workshop from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Sunday, 2 November, giving Trail visitors the chance to engage directly with Aboriginal artists and learn about their creative practices.

This collaboration underscores the inclusive, cross-cultural ethos of Creative Space, ensuring that a broad range of voices and perspectives are represented.

A Program Rooted in Inclusion

What makes Creative Space unique is its emphasis on accessibility and inclusion. This program, coordinated by Vinnies and running for eight years across the Southern Highlands, provides a safe and welcoming environment where adults of all backgrounds can explore creativity.

Workshops and open studio sessions offer more than just art instruction – they nurture skill-building, social connection and personal growth. For many participants, having “permission” to create is transformative, unlocking hidden talents or rekindling creative practices long set aside.

The materials available are both high-quality and resourceful, ranging from specialist supplies to interesting upcycled items. This blend of traditional and unconventional materials makes the space playful and accessible, ensuring anyone can participate regardless of experience.

For some, Creative Space has been life-changing. Participants often speak about the program as more than an art activity – it is a safe place, a supportive network, and a lifeline. One participant explained, “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for this place – it has saved my life.” Such powerful feedback underlines the profound impact that community-based creative programs can have.

Creativity for Everyone

At the heart of Creative Space is the belief that creativity belongs to everyone. Not everyone needs to become an “Artist” with a capital A, but everyone deserves the chance to explore their imagination, learn new skills and enjoy the benefits of creative expression.

The Arts Trail provides the perfect platform to showcase the results of this philosophy. Works on display are not just objects of art, but evidence of personal journeys, community growth and shared joy. Visitors will find an array of affordable artworks, making it easy to take home a gift or keepsake from the Trail.

Accessibility and Action

As an outreach service, Creative Space is committed to making art accessible in multiple ways. The Highlands Community Centre, where this year’s program is based, is working to improve physical accessibility by installing ramps and making modifications to its older-style building. While a fully accessible toilet is not available on-site, accessible facilities and parenting rooms are located nearby.

The organisation acknowledges that inclusion is everyone’s responsibility. By creating spaces where people of varied ages, backgrounds and abilities can come together, Creative Space Community Outreach demonstrates what true community-led creativity looks like.

A Hub for Makers

Beyond casual creators, the program also provides a space for those who are developing their practice on a more professional trajectory. Makers can dedicate focused time to their art within a supportive and relaxed environment. This balance – welcoming both hobbyists and emerging artists – makes the program unique.

The studio becomes a hub of exchange, where people at different stages of their creative journeys share ideas, skills and encouragement. It is a space where artistry and community meet, proving that growth happens when creativity is nurtured collectively.

Why Visit Creative Space Community Outreach on the Arts Trail?

Creative Space is always an ideal stop on the Trail. The welcoming atmosphere, combined with a colourful array of community artworks, makes it a refreshing and joyful pitstop. Visitors can enjoy a cuppa, meet local makers and perhaps even try their hand at creating something in one of the daily workshops.

The experience is more than just viewing art – it’s about feeling part of a wider community of creativity. Visitors often leave inspired, not only by the works on display but also by the sense of connection and inclusion that underpins the program.

More Than Art

Ultimately, Creative Space Community Outreach is about more than the artworks on display. It is about building connections, fostering inclusivity and recognising the role of creativity in wellbeing. The Arts Trail exhibition is both a showcase of what has been achieved and an invitation for others to join in.

Visitors will leave not only with the memory of a colourful, creative experience but also with a deeper appreciation for the role community plays in nurturing art.

The Southern Highlands Arts Trail 2025 will be held across the first two weekends in November, the 1st & 2nd and 8th & 9th from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily. Studios and creative spaces throughout the region will be open, offering visitors the chance to connect with local artists, discover unique works and enjoy the vibrant creative spirit of the Southern Highlands. Download your map here today!