FORM

What do you do?

I am a visual artist and arts administrator. In the past I have worked at Artsource: The Artist’s Foundation of WA, and on festivals such as Artopia. Currently I am the Exhibitions Manager at Alda’s Gallery and Project Space in Wolf Lane Perth. I also am a Grant Panelist for the Department of Culture and the Arts, and do various other projects from time to time in fashion, theatre and design. I am excited to be on the jury for an international student design idea competition called Plasticity Fantasticity run by the Landscape Architecture Department for RMIT University, where the winners will be promoted through Kerb magazine.

As an artist I am doing my first public art project this year with CODA, and am Artist in Residence at the Moores Building Contemporary Art Gallery where I am preparing work for a solo show at Freerange artist run space in the city. For more information please visit my website www.elizabethdelfs.com.

Who is in your 'creative community'?

I have really loved being a part of a young group of artists and art supporters in Perth who have been redesigning and contributing to the cultural landscape of Perth for the past few years. Many of us recognize what is lacking in Perth and there are lots of people starting new initiatives and contribute in the ways we now how.

There is a sense of possibility amongst this group which is exciting to be around and for me is making Perth a desirable place for emerging artists in which to locate themselves.

What is your 'creative footprint'?

I’d like to think that part of my footprint has been to do with helping other artists, through my work at Alda’s and on other projects, and in some way contributing to the cultural landscape of Perth.

Describe what creativity means to you...

Possibility, invention, splendor, wonder, questioning, thinking.

Describe the ideal conditions for your creativity, and what, if anything, hinders you in creating those conditions.

The ideal conditions for creativity for me are to have a well equipped suitable work space, with good music and a kettle for lots of tea and coffee! The only thing that is really hindering that condition is the outrageous cost of rentals in Perth, and the ridiculous amount of disused space in the city and Fremantle. It’s really frustrating that Perth is such a thriving creative community, musically and artistically, and yet due to redevelopment (which is just another word for gentrification, which is just another word for sterilisation), so much space is unable to be used because redevelopment authorities and private business owners are asking unsustainable amounts of money for space, and would rather see it go empty for years than be used.

Image: Take Me With You When You Go - David Turley