Creative expression blooms in Toukley in 2025
Toukley’s Village Green has come alive with colour and creativity, thanks to Central Coast Council’s Creative Spaces program. This exciting initiative is back in Toukley in 2025 and has once again transformed the gallery container into a hub for exhibitions, workshops, and artist talks. It’s an ever-evolving space where locals and visitors to our region can connect with our talented creatives in person, discover and immerse themselves in our rich arts culture and, even try their hand at something new.
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The spotlight for 2025 is on renowned watercolour artist Debra Meier. She will call the container home until March, 25th. Known for her breathtaking, detailed and quite simply, exquisite, depictions of native flora, fauna, and endangered bird species. Debra’s work is like a love letter to the local landscape and the Central Coast’s breathtaking natural beauty.
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Central Coast Council’s Creative Spaces in 2025
From the fiery reds of the Waratahs in Patonga to the soft golden hues of the delicate banksias found along our coastal tracks, her paintings capture the essence of our landscapes and the beauty and fragility of our natural world with a delicate yet powerful touch.
Debra’s residency isn’t just about showcasing her work—it’s about sharing her passion with the community. She’ll be hosting a variety of engaging workshops, including live watercolour demonstrations where you can watch her creative process unfold in real life. For those keen to pick up a paintbrush themselves, weekly classes offer the chance to learn from Debra’s expertise, whether you’re a total beginner or an experienced artist looking to refine your technique. And if you’re an aspiring creative hoping to turn your passion into a profession, Debra’s artist talks will cover everything from developing your style to navigating the world of social media and selling art.
More than just an exhibition, this residency is an opportunity to meet the artist behind the work, gain insight into her inspiration, and perhaps even spark your own creativity. The Creative Spaces program is all about fostering a deeper connection between artists and the community, turning public spaces into places of artistic exchange and inspiration.
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So here’s your official invite: art lovers, budding creatives, in fact, anyone who’s looking for a little inspiration, come on down to Toukley’s Village Green, step inside the Creative Spaces container, explore, and be inspired!
To learn more about the Creative Spaces initiative, visit Love Central Coast and Creative Spaces’ online home here.
And don’t forget—when you visit, share your experience by tagging #lovecentralcoast and @lovecentralcoastnsw on social media. Let’s celebrate the creativity thriving in our community.
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Check out what other talented artists have graced the Creative Spaces Gallery Container in the last few years.
Grace Agnes Creative Spaces Toukley
From Monday, April 1 to Friday, June 28, 2024 Grace Agnes will be taking up residence at the Creative Spaces Container in Toukley. The incredibly talented and exuberant artist will round out the Creative Spaces program which has seen the Gallery Container in Toukley host revolving artists since September 2023. The container has seen a range of celebrated local makers and creators spotlighting their artistic talents and wares.
During her time in the container, Grace has a myriad of creative activities planned, she will be showcasing and creating a series of alluring paintings, doing her famous pet portraits and photography. As well as hosting workshops, installations, book readings and mini art markets. Grace has carefully thought-out her residency and has something on offer for everyone.
Click here for more info.
Artists in Residence at Creative Spaces Container Toukley
The Creatives Collective is made up of visual artists, photographers and sculptors as organised by local photographer and Creative Spaces 2022 alumni, Zee Merven. With the idea of celebrating and giving a platform to a host of talented local artists.
The Creatives Collective lineup of artists and the dates they were in residence at the Gallery Container were as follows:
15 to 28 Jan 2024 – Andrew Leontarou (Photographer) and Fiona Smith (Painter) show titled Fluid: the Sea and Those Who Ride It”
29 Jan to 11 Feb 2024 – Sonja Bella (Fine Art Painter) and Sahra Bull (Painter and Muralist)
12 to 18 Feb 2024 – Carol Baldwin (Painter) presents Carol’s Creations
19 to 25 Feb 2024 – Julie Anne Jones (Underwater Photographer) her show titled Below the Surface
29 Feb to 10 Mar 2024 – Debra Meier (Watercolour Painter)
11 to 24 Mar 2024 – Zee Merven, Soelast Soelastijono, TC Nguyen, Chris Dick (All Central Coast Photographers) with their Harmony of Habitats Exhibition showcasing Central Coast wildlife and landscape photography
The Gallery Container in Toukley also saw a gorgeous exhibition by Fine Art Painter Sonja Bella @sobellaart and Painter and Muralist Sahra Bull @sahrabull. These two powerhouses showcased some real artistic gems and their incredible work.
Families visiting Toukley and the Creative Spaces Container were able to enjoy colouring boho flowers and mandalas with the artists during various workshops. If you missed this, don’t fret, there are so many more creative workshops coming up at the Container as well as run by the artists themselves. So make sure to give them a follow at the links above.
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Creative Spaces moved to Toukley in 2024
The Creative Spaces 2023-24 program saw the gallery container relocated to Toukley Village Green from The Entrance and the lineup of creatives that hosted activities out of the space for the Creative Spaces 2023-24 program was second to none.
With the continued support of the Central Coast Council which provides opportunities for local creatives via the Creative Spaces initiative, they are enabled to shine by showcasing their skills, art and talents via the program and beyond. The presence of the Creative Spaces gallery container in Toukley is set to positively contribute to the cultural life and increase visitation to Toukley a benefit to local businesses and the community at large. As Council Director of Community and Recreation Services, Melanie Smith said; Council was proud to have curated an engaging program that fills the gallery container with creative workshops, exhibitions and demonstrations.
“Council is funding three visual arts programs to occupy the container for three-month blocks from 11 September 2023 to 28 June 2024,” Ms Smith said.
“The program is now live and is vibrant and dynamic, so we encourage all community members to explore the schedule and regularly visit Creative Spaces in
Toukley’s Village Green. There will also be regular updates on Love Central Coast to support the talent and creative ability of those within the community.
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Central Coast Creative Spaces 2024
Council Administrator Rik Hart commented on what an opportunity the Creative Spaces program is. Not only to our creative enterprises, by providing a platform to showcase their creative practice, but also as a platform for our creatives to gain broad support from the local Coasties community.
“The program has always been supported by the Central Coast, home to some of the country’s top creatives, from sculptors to painters, ceramicists, and designers,” Mr Hart said.
“The program has proven to be important to developing and supporting people working in the creative industries on the Central Coast and the value they add to the economy.”
Creative Spaces in Toukley
To kick off the 2023/24 season Studio 91 presented by the incredible sculptor David Hough was in residence from 13 September to 22 November 2023 at Creative Spaces in Toukley.
Coasties Mag popped into the Gallery Container to catch up with David. Not only did he exhibit his works, he had them available for purchase but David also created sculptural pieces throughout his residency. It was a wonderful opportunity for the community to see an artist at work. David was warm, and friendly and loved to chat through his process as well as let you know the background to individual pieces for those who had an interest.
Throughout David’s time at the Gallery Container, there were sculptural clay play classes on offer, in addition, David also invited a variety of local artists, makers and creators to hold rotating exhibitions. Aside from sulptural pieces for sale, there was also giftware, jewellery, and line drawings which means Creative Spaces doubles as a day out and an opportunity to tick off some things from the Christmas shopping list. Win, win we say.
Always with the most up-to-date goss, we here at Coasties Mag, so make sure you’re in the loop by following us over on the socials. @Coastiesmag on Insta and over at Facebook.
And, to find out more about each of the creatives set to be involved with Creative Spaces, check out the full program for 2025 here at their online home.
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Congratulation!