Ceramicist Cassy Macarthur collects “wild clay” for her practice - image Josh Waddell, 2021

meet our community

Read more about some of our amazing network of creatives and artists, scattered throughout our city.

Kate Lucas and Damien Charles

How did your creative journey begin?

Kate: When I was 8 my mum gave me her nylon string guitar she used to play at folk clubs in the 60s and I haven't stopped playing music since!

Damien: As a kid I used to wait until my parents were asleep and then creep out to the lounge room, switch on the stereo and listen to Jean Michel Jarre and Pink Floyd records with headphones on in the dark.

How did your creative partnership begin?

Kate: I used to play in a folk/punk band and we hired Damien to engineer and produce a song called "Drunk to the Eyeballs" haha! That band is no more, but Damo and I got chatting and pretty soon after we started working on the first Coda Chroma album together.

How would you describe your practice?

Kate: I try to write regularly - a song a week at least, and I earmark ones that I like for future Coda Chroma records. We're nearly always working on recordings and often collaborate with other practitioners to create film clips, cover art or merchandise. We both listen to a lot of different styles of music, and immerse ourselves in activities that feed our creativity.

What are you working on right now?

Kate: We are in the mix phase for the third Coda Chroma album and we're tweaking the soundscape for 1000 Doors! And raising a couple of kids, which requires a lot of creativity :)

Damien: I'm also working on an album with singer-songwriter William Crighton and a few other projects for various artists.

What is your connection to Ballarat?

We live in Black Hill and our kids go to school here. It's a really great place to live, we feel very lucky.

How would you describe the creative community in Ballarat?

The creative community in Ballarat is outstanding - there's so much going on, so much great stuff to discover

Website: Damien Charles | More music from Coda Chroma

Kathy Horvat3 August 2021

Local artist groups and networks

If you would like your association, group or network highlighted, please drop us a note!

Ballarat Arts Alive is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit org that provides a forum for discussion, advocacy and development supporting the arts and artists of Ballarat and surrounds. Regular events are held to meet up.

More info

**Crafts Council of Ballarat** is dedicated to promoting and supporting the art and craft community of the Goldfields, with a shopfront located at the Adam Lindsay Gordon Collage.

more info

**Ballarat Art Collective** welcomes new members from all walks of life to regularly gather together and share their passion for art in all its forms.

More info

**Goldfields Printmakers** is a collective with a website for Printmakers who produce works predominantly in the art form of print and base their practice in the Goldfields region.
The websites role should act as a resource for these artists to connect and share their knowledge.

MORE INFO

**The Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative (BADAC)** was established by members of the Ballarat and District Aboriginal community in 1979, delivering health, social, welfare and community programs to local Aboriginal people.

more info

**Soldiers Hill Artist Collective** is a diverse group, who’s objective is to maintain an open and inclusive collective that is focused on promoting local arts and artists, whilst reinforcing the positive social benefit of the arts within the immediate community.

MORE info

**Sonika** is the City of Ballarat Youth Services' FReeZA committee. Sonika meet regularly to plan projects, events and gain event management skills. Sonika also runs a range of free or cheap all ages events that are drug, alcohol and smoke free.

MORE INFO

The **Ballarat International Foto Biennale** attracts significant International and Australian photographers as one of Australia’s pre-eminent photographic festivals. It is a not-for-profit event that immerses the historic town of Ballarat in photographic art.

More info

**Ballaarat Quilters** founded in 1996 by a group of women who wanted to promote the art and craft of quilting in Ballarat. A not for profit association where members meet regularly for a sit, sew and a chat together and exhibit their works to the Ballarat community every two years.

more info

**Ballarat Society of Artists** unvite you to come along and enjoy a friendly get together with other artists and creatives at to our monthly meeting.
BSA meets on the 1st Saturday of the month (except Jan) at 10.30 am at the Brown Hill Uniting Church Hall, Humffray Street North, Brown Hill.

Ballarat Writers.jpg — **Ballarat Writers** is a grass-roots organisation promoting local writing and writers in the Western Victorian region, with monthly Members’ Nights, regular competitions and workshops.

More info

Artists, Makers & Creatives

meet our community

Kate Lucas and Damien Charles

Local artist groups and networks