Expression of Interest:
Yarra Valley Arts Working Groups
Working Groups
The Yarra Valley Arts Committee invites expressions of interest for a number of Working Groups to ensure events and activities are member-driven and aim towards building an engaged community of creatives.
For most of its 30 years, Yarra Valley Arts has operated with a strong volunteer base, and we need your help! We hope to get enough people to create a number of groups that will work on specific tasks and events. Your contribution does not have to be creative. We need various skills across administration, project management, logistics and finance.
We encourage you to talk to your friends, think about where your skills would help the most and most of all, what you want to be involved with. If you want to talk to us, email us your question at info@yarravalleyarts.org.au and we’ll be in touch.
The proposed Working Groups are as follows and more detail on each is below:
Yarra Valley Open Studios
Out and About
Social events
Funding opportunities
Events and activities
YARRA VALLEY OPEN STUDIOS
Yarra Valley Open Studios is a highly anticipated annual event. The success of our previous years has been largely due to the invaluable contributions of our volunteers. As we prepare for 2026, we are once again seeking passionate individuals to make it happen.
In 2026, Yarra Valley Open Studios will be held on 10 & 11 October and 24 & 25 October 2026 with applications opening in April 2026.
The Yarra Valley Open Studios Working Group will work closely with the Coordinator. Responsibilities include:
Coordinating applications
Visiting studios , providing feedback and making recommendations
Taking photos for social media
Erecting roadside signage
Collecting information for brochures, signs and website
Providing assistance to participating artists before and during the event
OUT AND ABOUT
This established collaboration between Yarra Valley Arts and regional wineries brings high-quality art to the public. Each exhibition showcases a featured artist’s work for a set period, offering visitors the opportunity to view and buy art in a relaxed environment.
The Out and About Working Group will be responsible for:
Seeking applications and making recommendations to the Committee on artist selection
Coordinating the presentation and installation of the artwork at the winery in association with the artist and the winery staff.
Ensuring the artist provides appropriate information for each artwork.
Liaising with the artist and the winery as required.
SOCIAL EVENTS
We would like to establish a calendar of social events where members can catch up, share information and talk about their creative practice. We believe that you as members, with established networks and groups are best placed to do this.
The Working Group would be responsible for:
Establishing a regular calendar of various types of social events.
Advising the Committee of events so they can be highlighted in the newsletter and on social media.
Being at the events to support new members and ensure smooth running of any prepared activities.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Understanding what funding opportunities are available is important to ensuring a sustainable future. While we have current income streams in the form of existing grants, auspicing fees, and commissions, we are hoping to establish a coordinated approach to other funding opportunities. The Working Group would not be responsible for applying for or acquitting grants but rather keeping track of what’s out there.
Activities would include:
Developing and maintaining a calendar of grant opportunities.
Making recommendations to the YVA Committee about potential opportunities.
EVENTS AND WORKSHOPS
As we begin to develop workshops and events, we need help with identifying what members are interested in as well as physical help to set up for workshops such as the drawing sessions.
This group would be responsible for:
Identifying and proposing potential workshops and classes.
Assisting with coordinating events
Assisting with setting up for workshops and events.