Protect Your Creativity with VWA’s Affordable Public Liability Insurance. Comprehensive Coverage for Artists, Crafters, Woodworkers, Designers, and All Creatives. 

Starting in March, you can take out 6 months of coverage for the remainder of our annual insurance period for $165 

Are you an artist, crafter, or designer in need of reliable public liability insurance? VWA offers comprehensive Public Liability Insurance. Starting in March, you can take out 6 months of coverage for the remainder of our annual insurance period for $165. Perfect for market stalls, exhibitions, fairs, and other creative events. Our coverage includes public and product liability along with VWA membership, ensuring you and your work are fully protected. 

Insurance

The VWA runs a three year Artist in Residency program for emerging fine woodworkers, which provides a well-equipped and supportive environment at low cost while artists are establishing their practice. An opportunity has opened up for a new woodworker to join the program!

This is your opportunity to join a dynamic, supportive community and gain: 

• Heavily subsidised rent 

• 24/7 access to a fully equipped, high-quality machine room 

• Dedicated personal workspace and bookable office space 

• A supportive, professional woodworking community 

• Promotion of your art, woodwork, and business 

If you’re ready to take your woodworking practice to the next level, this is the perfect time to apply! 

**Don’t miss out**

Residency Application

A celebration of tradition, craftsmanship and skill. Find lost arts, rare trades and heritage crafts at this annual Lost Trades Event. Meet the makers, see how things are made by hand and watch demonstrations throughout the day. 

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When: 8 -10th of March
9:30am – 4:30pm 
Bendigo Racecourse, Hamelin Street / Heinz St, Bendigo East.  

Goods & Chattels was established in 1977 and has traded continuously since that time, with the current ownership operating since June 2008. For over 15 years Goods and Chattles have supplied more than 6,000 customers from all walks of life, a variety of industries and from many different countries. 

Goods & Chattels has a long-established reputation for sourcing and supplying the unusual and difficult to obtain items for furniture restoration. We have also supplied a range of items for the amateur and professional box maker (jewellery boxes to trunks) and woodwork hobbyist. 

Due to changing personal circumstances, we have had to make the difficult decision to close the business and have been working towards this closure over the past several months. We still have a range of items in stock and all full-priced items are now selling at 80% discount. Therds are also a number of samples, display and discontinued items selling at heavily discounted prices. 

Goods and Chattles are happy to email pdf lists of the products they have available. 

Contact: sales@goodsandchattels.com or 07 3391 5764. 

Timber  

We would like to share details of some rare, unique timber for sale with our woodworking community. This timber comes from the south of Japan (Kumamoto) and is estimated to be 100–300 years old. No two lengths are the same, with many featuring beautiful curves and kinks. 

There are around 80 lengths, ranging from 3 to 6 meters long, in varying conditions: approximately 50% are in very good condition (minimal rot or splintering), 25% in good condition (some rot or splintering), and 25% better suited for milling or cutting down for furniture. 

To see more examples of the timber and to inquire about purchasing go to  https://www.instagram.com/tokyotimber/ 

A solo exhibition by VWA Artist in Residence Isabel Avendano Hazbun
Opening night: 24 Oct 6pm-9.30pm
Exhibition dates: 25 Oct – 12 Nov 10am – 6pm
Venue: Meat Market Stables

Industry is an exercise in creating and applying honest sustainability practices within a small designer/maker studio, with the aim of creating a circular economy model. The result is a series of speculative works, some finished some still concepts, where the entire ecological impact of the object is considered: materials, production, use, storage, transport and disposal, compelling a revision of out-dated manufacturing models where sustainability becomes the true measure of an object’s worth.

View more here

Hello VWA Members 

I am delighted to introduce myself as the new Business Manager for VWA. I have over three decades of experience in launching, nurturing and advising creative businesses, alongside being a practicing multi disciplined artist focused on textiles, painting, and pattern design. I am excited to join this creative organisation and also enthusiastic to continue my own woodworking journey through VWA’s classes.

My background in the non-profit sector and with social enterprises has given me a deep appreciation for the behind-the-scenes work that keeps organisations like the VWA thriving. The commitment and dedication of the committee members, who volunteer countless hours every month to support and sustain the VWA so often goes unseen. In my role, I will be stepping in to handle many of the tasks that our committee have been managing, ensuring that VWA continues to operate smoothly and also sustainably. Additionally, I will oversee health and safety protocols and contribute to the overall management of all of VWA activities.

I am also committed to helping VWA grow, expanding membership benefits, and exploring new opportunities for all members. You can find me at the Wood Design Centre one to two days a week. If you want to meet and chat, please reach out via email to set up a time. biz@vwa.org.au

Warm regards,
Wendy Jasper

The VWA runs a three year Artist in Residency program for emerging fine woodworkers, which provides a well-equipped and supportive environment at low cost while artists are establishing their practice.

Applicants are generally early career and have some training in fine woodwork, able to work independently, along with clear goals on what they expect to achieve during their residency. A portfolio of existing work is part of the application process.

Successful applicants understand that while in residence they are part of the broader VWA family and are asked to work cooperatively with each other as well as the teachers and students at the Victorian School of Woodwork.

Residency application

The VWA is pleased to announce the addition of a new wood working class now on Thursday afternoons from 2pm-5pm. Lead by tutors Lionel Seibert and Isabel Avendano this class is now open for term3 enrolment. 10 weekly classes where you will be expertly guided by your tutors to make a piece of furniture of your choice.

The Gottstien Trust are sponsoring one young Australian from outside NSW to attend Dunstone Design Production Master Class this October. If your interested in learning the art of small batch fine furniture production with award winning makers at Dunstone Design, click here to find out how to apply.

If you’re travelling interstate and looking for a short course to do over this summer break, check out the 5 day short course held by VWA member Phoebe Everil at the Sturt school for Wood in Mittagong, NSW. 

Create a contemporary ‘Toni’ bar stool featuring a hand woven Danish paper cord seat. Some experience is required. 

For more information on how to apply click here