After COVID, and a year of not running the ever popular Alphington Open Studios weekend in the last week of November, the artists involved are keen to get going again this year (scheduled for 28-28 November for anyone who likes to diarise such things), but are also rethinking the event somewhat and contemplating new possibilities… and as such they are seeking new artists to join in.

So, if you are:

• a local practising artist (2D or 3D artist or photographer) with a studio in Alphington and would like to have your address on the map,

• a practising artist who lives nearby in surrounding suburbs who would be interested to joining in, or

• a local emerging artist keen to join in a group exhibition over the weekend,

please email us here. And someone from ACC or an artist already participating in the Alphington Open Studios weekend will be in touch. Be brave. How exciting!

Fred Colla was one of the artists exhibiting at ACC as part of the Alphington Open Studios weekend in 2019

Hi everyone, we’re back on deck today (Monday). We hope you had a lovely Easter and school break. If you sent enquiries through over the holidays that we haven’t answered already, Kalimna will get back to you tomorrow (Tuesday) when she’s in the office.

Over the next couple of weeks I’ll be working on some of the bigger picture things - including working with Lee on our next feature artist for the Alphington Neighbourhood Gallery (on the fence), finalising the podcast studio, and getting the raised gardens up and running (I need to head out to Bulleen Art and Garden for a dwarf lime for the centre of the new round garden as a starting point). Also I need to line up a time with Darebin Council to deliver some fresh tanbark for the front garden … and I must order the new cubby house, deck and sandpit to complete the toddler play space out there as well.

Yikes, I feel busy already! We’ve got lots of exciting new plans for term 2 and we’re looking forward to sharing them with you over the coming weeks. Stay tuned.

And don’t forget that we have morning tea on the corner every Friday at 11.30am. Come along for a cuppa and cake and chat. We’d love to see you.

Join us for morning tea on the corner every Friday morning from 11.30am.

If you are not so keen to be out and about at nighttime in the city for whatever reason, but love classical music, did you know that you can sign up to get a whole series of Melbourne concerts streamed live to your lounge room (or bedroom or bathroom for that matter - perhaps we should just say to your device wherever that may be …).

Melbourne Digital Concert Hall offers a range of packs that enable you to support the arts and local artists from the comfort of home. They start at $24 for one concert (with $20 going directly to the artists) and could make a lovely gift for those family members or friends who really need nothing but enjoy experiences.

It is pretty amazing the way things have changed in the last year or so, isn’t it? And it’s fabulous to think that streamed concerts are now de rigueur - enabling so many more people to access our fabulous arts culture live, as it happens.

Chris Howlett and Friends 1 - Brahms Sonatas and Songs, 28 April

A few weeks ago I knitted a little purple square and am feeling quite proud when I see it incorporated in our lovely yarn bombed handrails out the front of ACC.

Of course I do realise that it is only one of many … but it’s nice to have contributed!

Thanks Anne and Glenda for taking the time to add a bit of home crafted love to our centre.

If you are keen to join in low key yarn bombing or to learn how to sew and stitch - Anne’s is a willing teacher if you need some advice … we’d love to see you at ACC on a Friday morning. Come along and join in from 10-11.30am, and then stay for morning tea on the corner at 11.30am.

How fun!

The Environmental Performance Authority (EPA) leads an experiential walk through Alphington, with performances along the way.

For this event, Environmental Performance Authority (EPA) asked City of Yarra residents about what they found during their permitted hours of 'exercise' in Melbourne's Covid-19 lockdowns. From these stories and their own explorations, EPA have created a seres of performances and participatory activities to draw out some of the wondrous and surprising qualities and features of Alphington. 

WHEN: 2-5pm on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th of March (this weekend)

WHERE: Meeting point: Yerrin Chase (at the end of Perry St), Alphington, VIC 3078, northern edge of Coate Park 

The walk will go for approximately 2-3 hours, ending at Alphington Park.

WEAR: weather appropriate comfortable walking clothes, shoes and bring water bottle, hat, sunscreen.

Supported by the City of Yarra

To find out more and book your ticket click here.