Liam McNally
The new crop of Melton artists set to receive professional development through council’s flagship artist development program have been selected.
Tess Angala, Ayesha Baktawar Saad, Nanchok Santino Chol, Naomi Leeder and Adelai Van Loggerenberg have all been selected for Groundwork 2023.
Artists in the Groundwork program can access mentorship and curatorial advice from council’s arts and culture team, opportunities to take part in tailored professional development
programs, marketing and promotion support for their creative practices, and exhibition space at Melton Library and Melton Civic Centre.
Groundwork aims to grow the creative practice of artists living and working within the Melton to enrich the city’s creative ecology and economies. This tailored support is designed to
build capacity and develop skills for participants to maintain and grow their practice long into the future.
Groundwork recipient Naomi Leeder is a painter who loves the feeling of “entering another world” when she paints.
During the program she wants to continue her study of native birds and bringing them to life on canvas.
She said having people guide you in the right direction and give you information on how to do things and realise your skills and talents and passions is a “pretty great opportunity”.
“I grew up in Melton, and I’ve witnessed this beautiful community, and the council are really big supporters of arts and youth and bringing people together and I just love it,” she said.
Melton Mayor Lara Carli said she’s “excited” to see these artists’ work exhibited in Melton’s public spaces.
“Groundwork supports our city’s most exciting emerging artists to grow and thrive – and brings contemporary arts practice to a broader audience,” she said.
