There’s something very special about the Monte Lupo Arts Studio in the inner Brisbane suburb of Eight Mile Plains.
Not only does it bring a touch of Italy to the city having taken its name and approach to creating its bright, boldly designed pottery from the Tuscan pottery town of Montelupo, but it is one of very few art studios that offers employment to artists with disability.
Multicap’s Creative Arts General Manager Fiona Haynes said the studio currently employs 17 artists with disability in a variety of roles across each step of the production process, including preparing the clay, glazing and painting.
“Our artists with disability work in a variety of paid roles all helping create the ceramics the studio has become famous for,” Fiona said.
“There are not many jobs for people with disability who are artists. Our artists come to work, gain skills as an artist and are mentored and supported along the way. It’s more than just a job to these guys.”
Many of the artists have worked at the studio for more than 20 years. Nathan, who was just 18 when he started at the studio 25 years ago, describes the art studio team as ‘family’.
“I like working with the team, they’re lovely people to work with and we like to bring new people on board to our workplace,” he said.
“I also feel happy seeing my work in an exhibition as it shows people what you’ve done.”
The Monte Lupo Arts Studio was established by Australian disability support provider Multicap in 1991 to provide meaningful employment to people living with disability, with a focus on producing beautiful and unique pottery.
“The philosophy of the pottery town in Italy is that many hands help make the pottery, and that’s exactly what we do at Monte Lupo,” Fiona said.
“It’s not just about one person creating an artwork. Whether they got the clay ready or sculpted it, put it in the kiln or painted it, everyone in the studio is helping and has touched a piece of artwork in some way—it’s about everyone working together.”
Today¾more than three decades after it was established¾Monte Lupo encompasses an art studio, gallery, and cafe.
In addition to holding its own exhibitions, Monte Lupo Arts is regularly featured in exhibitions across Australia, including the annual Swell Sculpture Festival on the Gold Coast, Sculpture on the Edge and recently had sculptures at Woodford Fold Festival.
“We’ve been part of Swell now for 18 years and it’s one of my favourite exhibitions,” Fiona said. “It allows us to go big with our designs, and while I might have a concept, it grows into something bigger and better because it might have 20 people’s minds all working on it. And because we now run workshops for the Swell community, we get to engage with people and tell them our story.”
In addition to the Swell workshops, Monte Lupo Arts also offers art workshops to the public from its Eight Mile Plains studio. We have also been facilitating workshops in school for students and teacher. This year we also facilitated a workshop at Bond University for the occupational therapy students.
“We run about 75 workshops a year and most of them sell out,” Fiona said. “Many of the participants come back time and again because they love their creations, but they also tell me they love the environment here at Monte Lupo Arts.” We have one student that has attended 34 workshops over the last 5 years, she is very committed to Monte Lupo.
Fiona, who has worked at Multicap for more than 27 years, said there is so much to love about her work as head of the Monte Lupo Arts studio.
“I’m living the dream of creating art and working alongside and mentoring people with disability,” she said. “We are the only studio I know that offers a career to artists with disability and I’m really proud of that.”
To learn more about Monte Lupo Arts, go to https://www.montelupoarts.org.au/
Or visit us at the Monte Lupo Café and Gallery, 269 Padstow Rd, Eight Mile Plains.
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