Where Art Meets Heart: Ozanam Learning Centre’s 2024 Art Exhibition

The Ozanam Learning Centre, Vinnies vibrant community inclusion hub in the heart of Woolloomooloo, set the stage for the community’s fourth annual Art Show on 27^th November 2024, which was a spectacular showcase of local creativity and emerging talent.

Artists submitted a stunning array of mixed media visual art, pottery, ceramics, woodworks and installations which they had created throughout the year in the Centre’s several art programs, proudly including for the first time artwork by First Nations artists created in the Centre’s one-of-a-kind Cultural Hub – a dedicated engagement space led by First Nations staff.

Guests at the exhibition’s opening night were treated to original performances from the Forbes Street Band, featuring Sydney-based rapper Tiny Tones, and the Community Choir, headed up by Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s Community Engagement Producer and performing artist in her own right, Meklit Kibret.

Community Development Team Leader, Shirley Cachia, said that she was enormously proud of the OLC’s community of artists who come together in the studio each week to learn new skills, embracing new opportunities, both socially and artistically. “The beautiful byproduct of our art programs is the way that the groups cohere in the process,” said Shirley.

“We welcomed lots of new people into our programs this year, we are seeing a lot more First Nations people and a lot more women, are our community is all the richer for it,” Shirley said. “This annual exhibition represents more than the chance for our artists to display and sell art, it is a celebration of friendship and connection, sometimes between people who ordinarily wouldn’t mix.”

Over 40 pieces of art were sold on the exhibition’s opening night, which resulted in “a lot of happy tears from our artists,” said Activities Coordinator, Merindah Hardy, who leads the OLC’s Cultural Art program. “They were super proud,” she said.

With all proceeds from the art (minus 10% which goes toward materials used) being received by the artists, a spot in the OLC’s annual Art Exhibition can act as a springboard both to invest back into developing their craft, and to establish a profile for themselves in the public space. The exhibition opening itself was a wonderful celebration of unique talent, collaboration and community spirit.

The exhibition runs until the end of the year at the Ozanam Learning Centre, Level 3, 99 Forbes St. Woolloomooloo. To find out more about how to purchase art or sponsor OLC art programs, contact the OLC on 9358 8153 or 0482 131 182, or email olc@vinnies.org.au