For a treasure Trove of local art, you need go no further than Dickson

Ten years ago, a group of creative Canberra folk got together. They shared a passion for art forms as diverse as paper quilling and ceramics – and they also shared the dilemma of how to get their art “out there”.

Selling at markets and Canberra’s changeable weather didn’t cut it for them, so they decided “bricks and mortar” would be their thing.

Enter Trove, a cooperative of more than 20 Canberra artists, makers and designers now celebrating 10 years of selling what they make directly to the people who want to buy it.

Starting in a storefront in Civic, Trove moved to Dickson, where that suburb’s reputation for community spirit has helped it thrive.

“The fact we got through COVID and the big move out to the suburbs shows we are doing something people like,” Jo Layt, a paper quiller and Trove member said.

Jo, who said she had only been with Trove for about six months, said working with the co-operative had already helped boost her confidence when it came to creating and selling her work.

“I’m a paper quiller, which is an old art form,” she said. It involved curling paper into different shapes and forms.

“I use lots of floral designs and make cards and framed art.”

She said she wasn’t aware of the art form until one day she went to work and saw a card on her colleague’s desk.

“I fell in love with it,” she said.

“My colleague told me her daughter had made it for her birthday. I went home and Googled it and I’ve been doing it ever since.”

Jo said Trove showcased the work of about 20 artists – “and they’re all from Canberra or within a 100 km radius and everything has to be made by members”.

“This is why it works so well,” she said.

“Being an artist can be lonely sometimes so collaborating with other artists is great.

“We have a digital artist and another who makes kids’ clothes. They got together to combine their art, so now we have these wonderful Canberra prints on the clothes.”

The artists also work as mentors for each other, advising on everything from how much an artwork should be priced to how to market it.

“It’s wonderful that we all can share this way,” Jo said. “We all pull together and everyone benefits from that.

“If you’re with a retailer, no one really cares about the maker. But if you buy something in Trove, you know that an artist in there is doing a little dance and a squeak,” she laughed.

To celebrate its 10-year birthday and the festive season, Trove will host a special shopping night on Friday, 6 December, at its Dickson shop to meet the artists and buy their work.

“At Trove, we believe in empowering local businesses and connecting with the community to showcase the creativity and craftsmanship of our makers,” Trove’s chairperson Annette Clarke said.

“Our Christmas party is not just a celebration for our members, but an opportunity for everyone to experience the magic of locally made products and connect with incredible talents within our community.”

Trove Canberra’s Christmas party will be from 5 pm to 7 pm on Friday, 6 December, at 25 Dickson Place, Dickson.