Feature Artists

Feature Artists
Programs & People​
Learn more

What we do

Local art clubs

The artsbus is offering free regular programs in South Melbourne, North Melbourne, and Rosebud for children aged 5 – 12 who might otherwise miss out. The art clubs are open to registered or referred children. Please contact Gen if you live in the City of Melbourne or City of Port Phillip and want to register a child for the local artsbus, which is currently taking place on Zoom during the school term. Email: artsbus@akc.org.au

artsbus at home

The artsbus is hosting free monthly programs online for all children doing it tough in lockdown. To see the upcoming events and book in for a workshop, visit: http://akc_artsbus.eventbrite.com 

Collaborative programs

artsbus can offer once-off incursions or a schedule of programs in collaboration with a school, social housing estate, neighbourhood house or community group. 

Who we are

The artsbus community includes volunteers, feature artists, school and organisation partners, and of course the families and children we welcome to our artsbus adventures.

Thank you to the AKC Committee and our artsbus volunteers: Anne, Brenda, Annie, Frosty, Missy, Hellen, Georgie, Belle, Lily, Eleni, Mick, Moyi, Sarah, Jesse, Penny and many others behind the scenes!

upcoming Feature Artists

Weaving with Muhubo Suleiman

Muhubo at the arts bus

Muhubo Sulieman is a weaver who draws on techniques and processes from her traditional Somali culture. She is the Feature Artist for artsbus workshops with Carlton Primary School. > Qaymi Arts and Crafts

Casey Freeman - Pet Portraits

Image sourced from artist website, Pet Portraits.

This North Melbourne painting workshop is on hold until we can resume in-person programs. 

Gen at tge artsbus

Meet the artsbus program manager

Gen Townsend

Gen is a visual artist with experience in community arts, welfare, and educational settings. In 2015, she co-founded a community gallery in Dandenong with a vision to make art accessible. Through a scholarship, she later studied in Fiji and Cambodia over ten months to better understand the role of the arts in the Asia-Pacific region. 

As the artsbus Program Manager, Gen brings passion to support all children’s equal opportunity to the benefits of art, creativity, and play.

Say hello!

Email: artsbus@akc.org.au

Past Feature Artists and Workshops

Painting with Olana Janfa

Olana Janfa is an Ethiopian-Norwegian artist based in Melbourne, who facilitated “Paint an Oromo Lady” with artsbus at home. olanajanfa.com/ 

Movement with Hellen Sky

Hellen Sky is an Australian digital choreographer / performer / director / writer. She is a generous volunteer for the artsbus and ran movement workshops at our South Melbourne holiday program. chambermade.org/people/hellen-sky/

Weaving with Veisinia Tonga

We enjoyed a colourful weaving and flower crown workshop in South Melbourne over the term 2 school holidays. We hope to have Vei back again later in the year for North Melbourne programs!

"Play in the mud" with Kibby and Gordon

The artsbus welcomed Kibby and Gordon from Brixton Street Pottery for a series of ceramics workshops in the term 2 holidays at North Melbourne Community Centre.

Collective Consciousness with Tim Sneddon

Clown, Producer, and Youth Arts Facilitator Tim Sneddon has run “movie making” workshops with artsbus online during lockdown.  @timsnedd

Ceramic Gargoyles with Salvatori Lolicato

Salvatori Lolicato is a ceramic Artist based in St Kilda who has run ceramic workshops for the South Melbourne artsbus. salvatorilolicato.com