Manjimup Arts Hub celebrates two years of showcasing local creatives

A Southern Forests art organisation has celebrated its second year open to the public showing local artists’ work. The Manjimup Arts Hub opened in 2022 with the intention to allow artists to sell and display their works, including sculptures, paintings, print work and crafted wares. The hub also hosts workshops for those wanting to be involved in the creative process, and a monthly mini-market. Arts hub chair and inaugural committee member Pam Bodsworth said she and three artists started the project wanting to collect artworks which were about to be disposed of. “It’s giving lots of people space to sell what they had in their back room,” she said. “If they weren’t here, they’d still be in their back rooms. “We started off with 35 artists, and now we have 70, and 90 per cent of those artists are from the Manjimup shire.” Ms Bodsworth said funding from the State Government’s Native Forestry Transition plan had helped organisers renovate a back space in a building — leased from the Rumenos family — allowing them to create a space for workshops. Arts hub treasurer and inaugural committee member Franzine Karamfiles said the space allowed independent artists to have a platform to gain exposure and potential customers. “I think from the artists’ perspective, they wanted to showcase their art and it’s obviously not viable for most independent artists to have a shopfront or gallery,” she said. “It’s a collaborative effort for the artists and committee to pull together and showcase and sell the art.” The Manjimup Arts Hub will be one of 74 studios open for viewing during the Southern Art and Craft Trail from September 21-October 6.