​Is the Door of Hope program for you (or someone you know)?
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  • Do you have an inner artist just waiting to be released?
  • Have you always dreamt of being an exhibiting artisan?
  • Have you always wanted to do an art course, or take up art courses again, but haven’t had the opportunity to do so?
  • Have your family and friends told you your art or craft work is very good and that you should sell it?
  • Have you been hampered by a belief that your work isn’t good enough?
  • Would you like to be able to exhibit your work or offer it for sale in gift shops and at markets?
  • Would you like to develop confidence in belonging to a community of artisans and be introduced to the NEA community of artisans?​

​To be selected you will need to...
  • Describe something creative you have produced in the past or are currently creating which you could bring along or show us images of as a way of letting us know a little more about your ‘inner artisan’?  Don’t worry that it might not be ‘good enough’, just choose something or things you enjoyed creating and enjoy looking at. 
  • Choose which of the courses on offer you would like to take--'From Fibre to Felt' or 'Subject/Object/I - Self Mapping through Art'. .
  • Complete page one of the application form if you are applying directly or
  • Complete both pages of the application form if the referral comes from a community agency.
  • Deliver or send the application form to Door of Hope Project, North East Artisans, 122 Bridge St East, Benalla 3672. 

​Door of Hope Project
North East Artisans
​122 Bridge St East, Benalla 3672

Enquiries: 5762 8171 / 0478607838

Email: northeastartisans.projects@gmail.com Website/Contact Us: http://northeastartisans.org/door-of-hope
Door of Hope Project & Exhibition 2017

The  ‘Door of Hope’ project was  developed in 2016 by NEA artisans keen to provide opportunities for people in the Benalla community who have artistic capacity and dreams but haven’t had opportunities to have them realised.  A courageous initiative for a small, non-profit organisation the Door of Hope project aimed to give people with a love of art an exposure to learning about art in an environment of encouragement and support.

Funded largely by a grant from Benalla's award winning philanthropic organization the Tomorrow Today Foundation, supported by NEA’s executive committee and facilitated by member artisans selected  to take Door of Hope courses, the program was located in the creative community environment at NEA, where local artisans exhibit their work and from which a number of artisans work in studio environments.    

What the Door of Hope offered

From February to April in 2017 the Door of Hope offered twelve hours of class time free of charge to 24 people with a choice of two programs -‘From Fibre to Felt',  offered by textile innovator Annie Longmuir and ‘Subject/Object/I--Self Mapping Through Art'’, offered by local creative Edie Black.

Each group  consisted of a maximum of 12 participants who worked with  Edie and Annie to meet achievable personal goals in developing and exhibiting a work for exhibition and possible sale.  

Each course was made up of two hour classes over a period of six weeks commencing in mid February – studio time was also be offered at the discretion of the teacher and students involved. 

Courses concluded with The Door of Hope Exhibition - a joint showcase exhibition in gallery space at NEA which opened during the Wall to Wall Arts Festival and was on display for one month.  A  number of participants have gone on to investigate continued exhibiting of work in the NEA Gift Shop and Gallery. 

The Door of Hope concept, which we hope will continue, if in a slightly different form in future, is built around strengths focused and resilience developing principles.  

Summary
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NEA’s Door of Hope project offered two x 12 hour art courses which included the opportunity to exhibit and possibly sell in NEA’s exhibition space as part of the Wall to Wall Art festival in Benalla in April 2017.   

Application and Referral Process

Applications were by self referral or by referral from community agencies

Self referral - complete page one of the Application Form.  In 2017 most applications were self-referrals.  

Community agencies/other - for example
  • Employment services 
  • The Tomorrow Today Foundation
  • Waminda Community House
  • Benalla Flexible Learning Centre
  • Yooralla 
  • Cooinda
  • Non-government agencies eg. the Salvation Army and St Vincent de Paul
  • Family and Community Services
  • Juvenile Justice / Office of Corrections
  • Families/parents/guardians
  • Health services.  

In 2017 community workers from two local agencies refer clients with creative dreams who had had limited opportunities to explore and develop their creativity further.  The workers  completed and returned both sides of  the application  form and returned to NEA.     With permission of the participant, parents/carers and case worker/advocates from community agencies were be drawn upon and encouraged to provide encouragement and support.      
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