South Australia has always been a state of makers, unafraid of a bit of dirt under the nails. Institutions like The Mill, Peanut Gallery, Brick + Mortar, Ensemble and Mache serve this innate desire to create with a diverse program of practical learning opportunities, led by skilled local artisans. And demand is on the rise.
Enter Work-Shop and its “creative classes for curious minds”. Co-founders Chester Garcia and Matt Branagan launched the enterprise in 2013 – and already have spaces in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Now they’re sharing Work-Shop’s tactile approach to learning with Adelaide.
The impetus driving their model is “to get people to step outside the distractions of everyday life and experience the joy of making things using their hands, hearts and minds,” says Garcia. The broad program of short courses includes tattoo illustration, tea blending, lino printing, calligraphy, street art, pickle making and more.
Taylor Peplow Ball from Warndu and Pickle in the Middle is curating the Adelaide line-up, which she promises will be “affordable, approachable and fun”. “It’s somewhere people can try something they might not otherwise have a chance to try,” she says.
Work-Shop will operate out of WOTSO on Flinders Street. “They’ve got some really different, versatile spaces,” says Peplow Ball. “There are exposed beams, big beautiful windows – also a really cool rooftop space [where the brand will host its launch next Friday night, weather permitting].”
“[Garcia and Branagan] have had their eye on Adelaide for while. We’ve got a great creative energy here,” she says.
New workshops will be added regularly, as Work-Shop mines deeper into South Australia’s creative core.
Work-Shop Adelaide officially launches on Friday May 19. Classes start on Tuesday May 16.
Work-Shop
217-219 Flinders Street Adelaide SA 5000
0430 394 266
