Creative fun for young people in Colac Otway these school holidays

Published on 21 March 2025

Young people in Colac Otway can unleash their inner artists with three exciting workshops in Colac during the April school holidays.

Young people aged 12 to 25 can sign up now for the FREE workshops at the Colac Makers Space in the first week of the holidays.

First up, we’re calling for young artists to add their creative flair to wildlife nesting boxes during a Creative Conservation workshop at 10am on Monday 7 April.

This session will challenge young people to paint and decorate nesting boxes to provide safe homes and protection for local birds and animals.

Colac Otway Shire Council’s Community Services Manager Ashish Sitoula said the project would foster creative talent while also helping local biodiversity.

“Native birds and animals such as possums depend on tree hollows that form in older trees,” Mr Sitoula said.

“Areas without older trees often lack these hollows, so purpose-built nesting boxes give animals a place to live and thrive.

“This session will engage young people in conservation, making a real difference in the lives of our feathered and furry friends while also encouraging artistic expression.”

Meanwhile, artist Stacey Williams will lead two workshops in textured art and collage making on Thursday 10 April.

The Textured Art Workshop from 10am will guide young people to create their own unique textured art masterpiece.

This hands-on experience empowers young artists to experiment with bold strokes and unique textures, encouraging them to explore depth and expression in their paintings.

The Art Collage Workshop from 1.30pm will see young artists use old magazines and paint to create collages that tell a story or convey emotions evolving around a theme.

All three workshops are at the Colac Makers' Space, 99A Gellibrand Street, Colac.

Spaces for the workshops are limited so please register. Visit www.colacotway.vic.gov.au/Youth-Events for more information.

Meanwhile, arts fun will continue in the second week of the holidays, with a creative session at Colac Library for World Art Day on Tuesday 15 April from 10am to 4pm. Young people can drop in, bring along a work in progress or start a new artwork.

The workshops and World Art Day event are great opportunities young artists prepare their own entries for the upcoming Colac Otway Youth Art Competition.

Entries are now open for the art competition, offering a fantastic opportunity for people aged 12 to 25 to showcase their creativity and win great prizes.

The competition will culminate in a public exhibition at COPACC from Friday 23 May to Sunday 22 June.

Entries close Friday 16 May.

All these initiatives are proudly supported by Colac Otway Shire Council and Engage!