About the Studio
Mollie Vaughan Studio specialises in the consultation and coordination of creative, cultural (including spiritual/wellness) and community practitioners. At the studio, there is an awareness that such practitioners are vital in supporting the overall health and wellbeing of community. Being part of this space is a 24/7 job, and involves many different roles much of which can often take away from your most fundamental role; to inspire and formulate the culture of your communities. Founder Mollie Vaughan works with individuals and organisations from a space that is deeply intertwined with her ancestral knowledge of community wellness, her experience in the community arts space and her education in the creative arts. Clients will be guided by core, foundational philosophies which create a sustainable and holistic practice, and which aim to support clients on their journey toward achieving their goals.
The Story
Mollie Vaughan is a Photographic Artist, Community Arts Activist, and Consultant to creatives and community. The story of her studio’s creation began during the first years of the Covid-19 pandemic. During this time, Mollie became involved in the Surf Cost Arts Trail as a Local Area Coordinator and her eyes were opened to the importance of creativity and innovation in providing the fundamental structures that maintain community wellbeing. She watched many of her mentors and peers struggle as the pandemic highlighted the underlying fragility of our global community. Ingrained lateral violence in the arts and cultural sector especially, due to limited funding, had created a continual reliance and competitiveness for external resources. This was what made Mollie a passionate advocate for community and creative initiatives and thus, Mollie Vaughan Studio was born. Nowadays, you can find Mollie working with a variety of creative, spiritual, and cultural practitioners who equally align with her vision toward greater community wellness.
Professional Experience Summarised
Artist Coordinator of the Surf Coast Youth Art Fest // Development of programming for the festival, coordination of artists, communications between artists and project leads, artist consultation, installation and de-installation of event.
PhD Research Assistant // research into residencies, exhibitions, and grant opportunities for PhD candidate as well as editing of candidate’s colloquium.
Split Point Lighthouse // Social Media Manager for Instagram account.
Co-coordinator (Anglesea/Bellbrae) for the 2020 Surf Coast Arts Trail // co-designer of the virtual PORTAL program, liaising with 30+ local artists (who I love dearly), assistant web designer for PORTAL’s website pages & social media manager of the Surf Coast Arts Trail's Instagram account.
2020 Surf Coast Calendar // Head Photographer for finalist calendar works.
Surf Coast Art Space // Digital analytics and community engagement report writing, exhibition installer and front of house attendant
*My other skills include curation/oversight of exhibition installation, business administration, community engagement, grant/exhibition application writing and organisation of artists for various events/projects. Please see my CV below for more info*
Mission
My mission is to create a business which promotes independence amongst community and creative practitioners and supports symbiotic partnerships between them and organisations. My philosophy is that partnerships such as these should build the stable foundations needed in the sector which create self-sustainability, allowing creatives and entrepreneurs to formulate and lead the culture of their communities. My aim as an independent coordinator and consultant is to deliver services that aid community and creative practitioners from within the digital space through to the public place and all other initiatives in between, allowing organisations and entrepreneurs in their field more time to focus on their goals.
Vision
Having spent some years within the community arts space, I have become a passionate advocate for the ways in which the arts and community sector supports youth and enhances mental and emotional wellbeing. In the future, I hope to expand my mission further, by combining these passions to create and support initiatives that target these areas, whilst partnering community initiatives locally and abroad. I would love to see the construction of in-person and online gathering places, where creatives and businesses can engage with experimental and innovative ideas that give back to their respective communities and nurture their diversification.
