Ceduna Arts & Culture Centre Pottery Ceduna Memorial Hall Gallery Flair on Eyre The Big Oyster
The Ceduna Arts and Cultural Centre opened its doors in July 2001. There are a number of exceptionally talented aboriginal artists from Ceduna and the Far West region of Eyre Peninsula working within the Arts & Cultural Centre.
The Centre, which involves artifacts, pottery and kiln formed glass, is recognised for its aboriginal community involvement and networking in Far West communities.
As a successful enterprising business featuring many aboriginal artists who work at the Centre, it has experienced a huge growth over the last year and is a good role model for other communities. It has also given artists, some from as far as Oak Valley, Maralinga, Yalata, and Koonibba as well as locally here at Ceduna, an outlet to display and sell their work and this provides a source of income and a level of economic independence for artists.
The Centre has work placements for numerous CDEP clients. The artists have opportunities to explore a variety of art mediums. Activities there include painting canvas, board, emu eggs and abalone shells and sculpture, which includes ceramics, leatherwork, silks, artifacts, jewellery, shell chimes and mobiles.
The Centre also provides new skills workshops, training and materials as well as a working environment and facilities for the artists to work in.
They have for sale a huge range of good quality paintings and arts products and a significant display of traditional artifacts, emu eggs, didgeridoo and boomerangs. Recently works from artists Jaylene Ware and Christine Tschuna were accepted into the Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize, and Chris Ackland and Verna Lawrie have been accepted into the Whyalla Art Prize.
In January 2006, the Centre, supported by South Australian Country Arts, held its first art exhibition in Adelaide called "Wanna Tjuta Art".
A first for the Far West Coast, the Centre is currently developing a dedicated Language Centre covering the history of local languages such as Wirangu, Kokatha and Mirning. This will be a vital resource for preserving and reviving the traditional languages of the far west coast. Recently, Gladys and Wanda Miller have worked closely with linguists, Professor Muhlhausler and Paul Monaghan from the University of Adelaide, to produce "Wirangu Picture Dictionary" and a picture book called "Wardugu Wirn" featuring a traditional wombat hunt. These books will form the basis for a Wirangu language revival program in schools and the community and are on display at the Arts and Cultural Centre.
The centre provides a service in picture framing to the community. The centre trained the artists in techniques of picture framing to enhance their artwork for exhibitions and art prizes.
The Centre is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, and weekends and public holidays by appointment.
Click here for contact details & further information.
Pam Diment is another one of our successful local artists, and you must see her wonderful pottery. Pam was born in Ceduna and after local schooling, did her Diploma in Ceramics at the SA School of Art. Later she established a pottery workshop in Grafton NSW. In 1985, she moved back to Ceduna and was instrumental in setting up local craft shops from where she sold her work. Her inspiration is drawn from the environment, flora and fauna and especially by the beautiful beaches in this district.
The Gallery was built when the Memorial Hall was upgraded in 1994, and the original facade of the Hall was retained and can be seen inside the room. Due to staffing arrangements the Gallery is not open all the time. It hosts a variety of exhibitions and events sourced from across Australia. Opening hours vary according to availability of staff and when exhibitions are on, access times are printed on the front door. At the rear of the Hall view a mural depicting aspects of the Murat Bay area painted by local Aboriginal artist, Penong Miller. His work can be seen at the Community Hotel and Crossway School too.
First established at Thevenard, Flair on Eyre Craft Shop sells a range of locally produced arts and crafts in Poynton Street, Ceduna.
Call into the Tourist Information Bay on the western outskirts. See the Big Oyster. Made by local oyster growers for use in the Ceduna Oyster Fest Street Parade, this oyster now invites you to visit an oyster farm and sample the great oysters that are grown in this district.
