~ Australian Made ~ Hand Made ~
Local Small Business and Hobbyist Cooperative
Homewares, jewellery, handbags and purses, skincare, baby's and children's clothing and accessories, cards, artisan gift items, sewing and craft supplies and much more... We are a group of individuals who are passionate about creativity and community. Membership of the cooperative is open to people seeking to make, promote and sell high-quality handmade products, share knowledge and skills, and to support and empower others desiring to do the same. The members and suppliers of the cooperative, who all contribute to the day-to-day running of the shop and workshop space, are supported by a dedicated group of volunteers who share our vision, mission, and values. As an organisation, we strive to provide a safe place, a haven of learning, a place of connection and true belonging. All activities and programs run through the organisation encourage the immeasurable benefits of creativity and community for good mental health and wellbeing, as well as the simple joy of gathering with real people, in the real world and creating cherished moments and memories. OUR VISION
Building and maintaining an intentional, supportive community whose volunteers, members, and visitors embrace a love of handmade and opportunities for the sharing of skills in traditional and contemporary arts and crafts. OUR MISSION
• To provide a retail environment for the sale of the highest quality handmade artisan creations
• Through the sharing and learning of art and craft skills, to provide opportunities for community engagement and social inclusion. OUR VALUES
• We value people and the gift they are to our community
• We value creative groups whose activities are shaped and directed by the people who take part in them
• We value situations where everyone is treated equally and feels included and are actively working to increase opportunities for people to be creative
• We value the pooling of knowledge, skills, and equipment to enhance creative cultural activity, for the common good
• We value the generous contribution of volunteers to our organisation
• We value the planet and environment in which we live and commit to principles of sustainability in all our endeavours. THE FOCUS AREAS OF THE COOPERATIVE
1. ‘Artisan Handmade Shop’ offers an exceptional retail environment offering makers the opportunity to showcase and sell their high-quality handcrafted works.
2. ‘Art and Craft Supply Shop’ offers a range of affordable new and de-stashed (new unused) crafts supplies, haberdashery, fabrics, yarns, tools, machines, and equipment.
3. The ‘Creative Workspace’ offers a range of in-house creative circles and workshops.
• The ‘creative circles’ offer individuals the opportunity to gather and create together in a peer learning format, focused on a specific craft medium or technique. The circles aim to bring together people from diverse backgrounds with a variety of skill levels. The focus of these creative circle groups is not only on the creative pursuits, but more importantly on providing a safe environment to grow friendship and support networks, benefiting participants social and emotional wellbeing.
• This workspace is also used for the teaching of project and skills-based technique classes/workshops. Facilitated by talented and experienced, local artisan craftspeople, the workshops enable participants to learn new skills and grow their knowledge and confidence in creating their own handcrafted items.
4. Volunteers work with our Co-operative to enhance and extend the work, bring new insights and ideas, promote the organisation in the local community and increase awareness of the mission and purpose of the association. Volunteers bring their skills, lived experiences, interests, and passions to providing hospitality, caring for the retail environment and customers, and the facilitation of events, fundraising, and community outreach activities.
5. ‘Community Outreach’ activities are our way of taking our creative passions out into the community by the provision of creative events and activities. Members, suppliers, and volunteers work collaboratively to facilitate events such as Craft Days, Creative Retreats, Exhibitions or Showcases, visits to Retirement Villages, and hopefully, many other possibilities in the future. We operate on income generated from the members monthly subscription fees, rent and commission on sales paid by the suppliers, as well as donations and fundraising activities. As we progress, it is our goal to start a sponsorship program with local business support and where possible to apply for grant funding, which will enable us to grow and expand programs to reach a wider range of individuals who seek to learn and participate. Any profits made from the operation of the cooperative are reinvested into the growth of the business, as well as increasing opportunities for individuals and groups from across the local community to engage with and participate in creative pursuits and events. Village Creative Studio began as a sole trader business in 2015. After trading successfully as a retail store for 9 years, the original owner gifted the business to the group of people who had supported the day to day running of the shop and supplied their handmade products to be sold therein. This group the formed and registered as a non-distributing Co-operative without shares (i.e. a not-for-profit organisation). We have since moved to new and larger premises, enabling growth and expansion. With the increased space, the co-op has now taken on new creative artists who are selling their works and working in the shop. The creation of a separate workshop room has allowed for increasing opportunities to be made available to individuals to engage in creative teaching and learning experiences, as well as access upcycled and affordable new craft supplies. Classes and Creative Circles, including a community yarn bombing group is seeing increased involvement in the daily life of the co-op.
