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Words: Lara Pacillo // Main photo: The Rundle Collective by Tessa The Photographer

Within the bones of the old Allan’s Music store on Gawler Place, just off Rundle Mall, over 40 artists nurture their practice.

Painting, pottery, jewellery, clothing design, photography, candle-making — even bookbinding — all flourish across the two-levelled Rundle Collective, in a studio ecosystem that’s been steadily growing over the past three years.

On Wednesday June 18 from 5:30pm, The Rundle Collective, in collaboration with Guildhouse, SA’s peak body for visual arts, craft and design, will host a free public evening inviting anyone and everyone to explore the studios, meet the artists, and join the growing creative network.

“It’s a really fun, easygoing way to break down barriers facing artists,” says Lana Adams from Guildhouse.

“You can chat with the creatives and the founders on an even playing field, ask questions, and just get a feel for what’s possible.”

Guildhouse Greets takes place every couple of months, each time profiling a different cultural festival or arts organisation based in South Australia empowering artists to get involved.

The collaboration between Guildhouse and The Rundle Collective is a natural fit — both are dedicated to empowering artists with accessible, collaborative spaces and support structures.

Artist Cassie Hutchinson and her partner Nicholas Sharples launched The Rundle Collective in 2022 as a Renew Adelaide project, with the goal of creating a physical space for connection.

“Arts can be a very isolated career choice,” says Cassie, who’s worked in painting, ceramics and paper art for over a decade.

“I was sick of working by myself. I was working full-time alone in my office, then going home to paint by myself in my front bedroom. I only had the dogs.”

The Rundle Collective started with four artists in Adelaide Arcade in 113 square metres, which they outgrew in six months.

The studio then moved to Gawler Place on a larger 400-square-metre level of the old Allan’s music store, before expanding again, with current renovations taking over a second floor, now totalling 800 square metres.

“From those four creatives, we now have over 40, and with so much more room up here,” Cassie says.

“We’re building this beautiful creative community of people from all different walks of life.”

The space encourages natural collaboration. Artists often share skills, tools and ideas that help one another grow and pick up new techniques.

Jewellery maker Min Jung helped ceramist Nick Johnson craft his wedding ring, while Nick ran ceramics workshops that introduced Min to hand-building skills.

Nick finds it encouraging and reassuring to know that there is always support for artists and creatives at the studio.

“As an emerging artist, I love that the Rundle Collective is a kind community of creative people who are always trying to help each other and thrive, rather than it just being a simple studio space where I work,” he says.

“There’s always someone happy to have a quick chat about what I’m currently working on, and their varying perspectives always lead to deep and thoughtful discussions or helpful advice.”

Nick loves the atmosphere and the diversity, which Cassie explains spans a wide range of ages.

“We’ve got kids straight out of high school and in their first year of uni, to people like Chris and Monica in their 60s and 70s,” Cassie says.

“So, it’s a really good bracket of people at all different stages of their career and life.”

Studio memberships are flexible, shaped by each artist’s needs and budget.

“So essentially they get a floor space where they can do anything they like that works for them and their practice, as long as they protect the floor…,” Cassie laughs.

“We’ve had people paint murals, we’ve got people who put shelving all the way up, dividers, all sorts of things.”

Once renovations are complete, facilities will include two event rooms, a podcast studio, film and photography space, a content creation studio, “very very fast” Wi-Fi, and a kitchen — all included with the 24/7 membership access.

“They just get a key and come and go as they please,” Cassie says.

“No worrying about extra bills. It’s one monthly payment.

“As creatives we know money is terrifying, right? Nobody likes to talk about money and money is stressful. So we just try and make it as non-stressful as possible.”

Cassie and Nicholas are intentional about making The Rundle Collective welcoming and accessible. All walkways are wide enough for wheelchairs, and pets are welcome too.

“One of our artists has an Assistance Dog that comes in with her every day, which is lovely. That’s Poe the pup,” Cassie says.

The Rundle Collective fills a gap for artists who didn’t come through traditional pathways, and Guildhouse Greets helps people realise there are other pathways that exist.

“It’s really important for people to be able to mix and be around others, especially those who didn’t or don’t have the luxury of going to art school,” says Lana, who credits Guildhouse with helping sustain her own career as an arts worker and photographer.

“That’s generally where people form their networks, and this gives them that connection at any stage of life or practice.”

The Guildhouse Greets series is Guildhouse’s response to their annual sector survey of members and the wider arts community, which revealed how alone many artists are feeling.

“We got a chorus of people saying they feel really isolated, lonely especially over COVID, and they were really itching for connection,” Lana says.

“They could see all these festivals, events and places like Rundle Collective existing, but there was a barrier. If you don’t know, you don’t know.

“Guildhouse Greets breaks down that barrier and gets people into the organisations that they want to connect with. It gives them that confidence to say, ‘I could be a part of this, this is for me.’”

Guildhouse also supports artists practically, “taking the headache out of negotiating your own business,” Lana says. Membership includes essentials like public and personal liability insurance which is crucial for selling at markets, curating exhibitions, running workshops, or welcoming visitors into your studio.

Lana and Cassie encourage artists young and old, emerging and established, to come along to Guildhouse Greets and leave feeling a little more a part of a community.

“Guildhouse Greets is about building confidence,” says Lana.

“We want to break down the barriers, whether financial or physical.

“So many artists wonder, ‘can I call myself an artist? Should I have a studio?’ This event shows them that yes, they belong here.”

Guildhouse Greets: Wednesday June 18 from 5:30pm // The Rundle Collective 58 Gawler Place Adelaide 5000

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