Janis is an art and wellbeing professional with experience in visual and performing arts, education, community cultural development, textiles and design, both in Australia and internationally.
An educator for 5yrs, at RMIT, following a successful career of 22yrs in design and patternmaking both in Australia and the UK. Throughout these years she continued her own creative endeavours, exhibiting artwork, producing costumes and sets for theatre.
A time of great reflection and insight came 9 yrs ago whilst she developed and implemented educational art projects for an international school in Dubai, UAE. Janis observed positive physical and emotional changes in students whilst participating in creative learning, outcomes valued by staff, parents and other students. Outside of the school environment Janis involved herself in the Dubai Community Theatre, a space of connection and social dialogue, where the arts acted as the bridge between diverse cultures. Both of these lived experiences proved to be the catalyst for further academic studies in Art Therapy and Community Cultural Development.
Janis is interested in the space where the Arts and Wellness connect, a space of transformation and positive change. She is a community development artist and project manager, who advocates for artistic initiatives in community health, libraries and public spaces.
As an Art Therapist, Janis has developed her Creative Wellness program, which provides a vehicle through ‘The Arts”, to explore and express self, including reflecting on and making meaning of life challenges; Mind, Body and Soul.
Programs and Projects Timeline
- 1000 Connections Project – Pilot – 2021
- Moorleigh Village Community Gardens Project: Moongala, Glen Eira Council, Moorleigh Community Garden, Bentleigh Mens Shed, Bunnings, 2020 – 2021
- The Butterfly Project – Breaking the Cocoon of Loneliness: Moongala, Glen Eira Council, Connect Health. 2019 – 2021
- Scarborough Mural Project – Bluff Road Estate Community Development Project Partnering with Bayciss, Connect Health, Community, DHHS, LIONS and Bayside Council. September 2018.
- Bluff Road Estate – Supported Adult Art Group. Feb 2018 – Ongoing Tuesday 12-2
- Connecting Voices – Partnering with Connect Health and Community. November 2017 – April 2018.
- Fence Field Project. June- December 2017.
- Pamper me in Style – Partnering with WHISE. June 2017
- Finding A Way – Partnering with Connect Health, Moongala, WHISE and Bentleigh Secondary College.
- International Womens Day Project. June 2017
- Moongala – Supportive Art Groups Thursdays 2016 – Ongoing
- Moongala – Creative Wellness Art Therapy Program 2016 – Ongoing
- BUPA Caulfield – Art Therapy Program with elders. 2016 – ongoing
- Rhythm of Life . – Partnering with Bayside Medicare Local, Central Bayside Community Health and Clarinda Community Centre.2015
- SEE the VOICES. – Westall Secondary School, Bayside Medical Local, Beyond Blue and Headspace.2015
- Whispering Trees. – Public Art Installation. Community engagement- ArtCycle – City of Darebin 2015
- Scenes on the Yarra Project – Installation Artist: Herring Island. February 2015
- Voices in the Courtyard: A community engagement project with Kingston City Council. December 2014
- Whispering Trees: A place making engagement project – The Upfield Bike path. Dec. 2014
- WEAVE: A textile art community engagement project. City of Kingston, Clarinda Community Centro. 2014.
- Year of the Horse – A textile art project – Clarinda Chinese Community. 2014
- Clarinda Community Market 2014 – Consultation and mentoring
- Year of the Snake – Community engagement- Clarinda Chinese Community 2013.
- Creative Wellness Art Therapy Program 2013 ongoing
- Community Flags – An engagement project defining the Clarinda communities, needs and messages. 2013
- Linking Generations: An inter generational project with diverse groups of women in Ascot Vale. 2012
- Wingate’s Cultural Totem Poles: A project working with children from diverse families which promoted family and cultural interaction and community identity. 2012
- Wingate’s Drop In art group and exhibition – the focus on social and creative experience and expression. 2012
Wellington International School Dubai. ARTS4US educational and interdisciplinary arts projects. 2006 – 2009
- Egypt – Year 3: Study of Cartouches, Egyptian Symbols and Pyramids
- Light and Dark – Year 1: Contrasts, Black and White, Assembly and Construction, Writing and awareness of self through line drawing portraiture.
- Exploration – Year 2: Tail Ship adventures, Sails, tactile creation and color, storytelling and listening skills.
- Olympic Arts – Year 5: Year of the Olympics, Pop Art, Sculpture and textiles.
- Bugsy Malone Production – Year 6: Art Deco, Creation of Stage set for theater studies.
Employment
- Art Teacher: Cheltenham Community Centre, 2021
- Art Teacher: Castlefield Community Centre, 2018 – 2021
- Art Teacher: Moongala Community Centre, 2016 – 2021
- Art Therapist: Moongala. Creative Wellness Art Therapy Program, 2016 – 2021.
- Art Teacher and Art Therapist: Bupa Caulfield: Art Therapy Group, 2016 – 2020
Qualifications
- Masters of Community Cultural Development, Melbourne University, VCA.
- Post- Graduate Diploma in Art Management. RMIT. 2011
- Diploma of Transpersonal Art Therapy. Phoenix Institute 2012
- RMIT- Certificate IV in Workplace training and Assessment. 2005
- BA Art and Design. RMIT.
- Volunteered at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. (ASRC) Footscray.
- Chairperson 2015. City of Kingston Arts & Culture Committee.
- Victorian committee member at Institute of Creative health.
