A few months back we sent an e-news entitled "Everything, everywhere, all at once, at CAN”. That title referred to the many events that we were about to present in the space of just six weeks, but actually it’s also perfect for our annual reflection on the highlights of 2024.

It has been a massive year for CAN, and not just in terms of artistic outcomes, or the incredible effort from our team and the wonderful communities and artists with whom we work. What has underpinned everything we do and everywhere we go is the way we have worked together to navigate a year that was one of the most challenging in scale and scope – but also one of the most rewarding – that we have experienced to date.

Please enjoy our reflections on 2024.

Danielle Antaki, CEO

This year has been an epic rollercoaster of an adventure! I cannot thank the team enough for rallying together and rising to the funding challenge that was set for us at the end of last year, and then to reach the end of this year in such a strong position with renewed support from Creative Australia – what a journey!

Community Arts Network is so much more than the sum of its parts and together we realised the potential that is invested in us by the communities, participants, artists we work with – these relationships make up the momentum that is CAN.

What was beautiful for me this year (my first full year at the helm of this extraordinary organisation) was witnessing the power of our relationships; and how our processes build up and build on those relationships. Through the simple, supremely human process of creating something together, we built trust and empathy, understanding and respect – as well as building skills, capacity, connections and hope.

With all the things going on in the world right now, CAN is like an ember warmly glowing, and if I could sum up a highlight for me it would be seeing the faces of participants, audiences and artists light up with the joy of inspiration, pride and a recognition of our shared humanity.

So here's to the power of collaborative creating. And here's to many more creative conversations, and another epic year!

Miranda De Baughn, General Manager

It is hard to sum up 2024 with just a single highlight. It has been a year of both absolute joy and one of the hardest years I have experienced at CAN. We went from starting the year on such a low following our unsuccessful Creative Australia Four Year Investment EOI, to raising over $1,000,000 in grants after that loss.

I said this last year but the team that I have the pleasure of working with every day is, and will always be, a highlight every year. We are so incredibly blessed to have such a talented, passionate and loving family here at CAN. The success of this year is dedicated to them.

But if I have to name a single highlight, it would have to be standing on Wireless Hill in Melville for Fireside Friday. As the sun set on a perfect evening and I listened to the Elders and community proudly sharing their journeys through the project, it finally hit me just how much we have achieved during Place Names Melville. It is by far the biggest and most impactful project I have had the pleasure of being a part of. Congratulations to the team, community, Elders and our partners, City of Melville and Moodjar, for this incredible achievement. The impact of this project will continue to be felt for years to come.

Michelle White, Executive Producer

The highlight of 2024, for me, has to be the entire High VisAbility project with Sir David Brand School. What an absolute privilege it was to work alongside artists of the calibre of Natalie Scholtz, Tegan Jenkins and Rebecca Lyon Augustus, who not only held the space so beautifully, but were not afraid to push boundaries to help young artists living with disabilities to create collaborative contemporary works that are worthy of display in any major gallery.

On a personal note, being able to take this journey alongside my sister Mandy White was very special. Our precious Dad was at the end of life when we started High Vis and he was so proud seeing his two girls working together. The workshops gave us both joy and respite during those heartbreaking final months and although he didn’t make it to see the work unveiled at PICA, he was definitely there in spirit, looking on with pride.

On a lighter note, my other highlight has to be at the launch of High VisAbility, watching Mandy introducing the Federal Member for Perth to everyone as ‘Patrick from the Government’!

 

Pauline Sikweti, Finance Manager

My highlight for 2024 was Making Time, a conference designed to give people in the arts and community development sectors a chance to “be on the other side”, relax and enjoy being a participant instead of a facilitator. But such is the nature of this caring community, I was asked many times by participants throughout the day if I needed help, had I had anything to eat, have I had a chance to sit and relax? So grateful to be able to work in a sector full of caring, creative and thoughtful people.

Rebecca Lyon Augustus, Marketing and Design Manager

Working across all of CAN’s projects I have witnessed so many moving moments, but my highlight happened just last week at a Place Names Bayswater cultural mapping workshop. It was hearing the community artists gasp in delight as lead artist Zali Morgan revealed the results of a work that they had created the previous week.

Seeing artworks unfurl across all the projects, experiencing the heart, stories and intentions that community members put into their work is incredibly special. Artworks such as the stamps and map made by First Nations community members during Place Names Melville, the four metre neon acrylics lit up at PICA Gallery, created by the students from Sir David Brand School and Mandy White, the lullabies written by the Moorditj Maaman men's group for the  Mamaan Weitj album and the accompanying songbook cover art – these are all such valuable collaborative works that now form a part of the cultural landscape and history of WA.

I am very grateful to be working with such a committed core team and an immensely experienced and talented group of CACD artists.

Nina Levy, Communications Coordinator

This year an absolute highlight, for me, has been seeing the way our stories have been told by the media.

As Communications Coordinator, it’s my job to write press releases pitching our events and projects to journalists for media coverage. It’s such a buzz when your story gets picked… but an even bigger buzz is when the result really captures the essence of the work.

We’ve seen our projects featured on numerous platforms but two were particularly heartwarming: Kate Leaver’s coverage of our Lullabies Swan project for ABC radio and Emma Wynne’s story about Place Names Melville for ABC online.

Long Nguyen, Arts Administrator

My biggest highlight this year was my one-year anniversary as CAN's Arts Administrator, seeing how hard the team has been working with different communities (while also having fun!) to deliver incredible projects that have positive, long-lasting impacts.

Since my responsibilities include overseeing CAN's communication channels, I had the chance to read through all the beautiful feedback on the work that we've received from our communities, audiences, partners and supporters. Sharing those lovely comments with the team and seeing how they react just makes it even more special!

Elisha Rahimi, Project Producer

There have been so many highlights throughout 2024! Watching the Now Sounds Hedland participants stand up and put on an incredible performance for Hedland's Youth Week was amazing. I have been inspired by each participant's journey throughout this project, and seeing one of them make it as a finalist for the WA Youth Awards was a beautiful thing to witness.

Getting to know other projects produced by the CAN fam and making it to a couple of their launch events has made me feel so grateful for the incredible work that CAN does, and for the amazing team members that make it possible. I also got married this year and couldn't have asked for a sweeter and more surprising celebration from this team. A huge thank you to CAN for being all that it is.

Lidia Castro, Community Development Officer

What an amazing journey this year has been for the Noongar Lullabies project! A highlight in 2024 was the Swan edition of the project, which drew out such beautiful stories, feelings and creativity from Midland’s Moorditj Maaman men’s group.

The launch and celebration of Maaman Weitj: Noongar Lullabies from Swan was the perfect way to wrap up months of hard work, growth and teamwork. One of the afternoon's highlights was seeing the Moorditj Maaman take the stage to share their songs. Their confidence and strength were inspiring, and they captivated the audience with their journeys through music. The stage became a space for transformation and empowerment, uplifting everyone. For me, the event was more than just a celebration; it was a beautiful reminder of how art and community can bring us all together.

It was heartwarming to witness the participants’ growth throughout the year come to life in such a meaningful way. Huge congratulations to everyone who contributed to making the Noongar Lullabies from Swan a fantastic success, and a big thank you to the CAN Team for all your guidance and support. 

Nduta Gathoga, Place Names Melville Producer

The highlight of my year was being part of the CAN team – a sisterhood that uplifted each other through challenges. 2024 was especially significant as it marked the final year of Place Names Melville. We worked tirelessly to celebrate the community’s contributions from over two years of programming.

A standout moment was the final Cultural Mapping workshop at Bidi Katitijiny, where participants saw the completed map for the first time and had professional photos taken with it. The pride, smiles and tears from the community, seeing their work honoured, made it unforgettable.  Traditional owners are preserving and celebrating their intangible knowledge and cultural  heritage for future generations and I feel privileged to have been a part of that journey.

And of course! The Doontanboro Kura exhibition – the culmination of Place Names Melville – was another incredible milestone. Walking through the gallery with the community and witnessing their awe and pride in seeing their art displayed at Yagan Mia was a moment I’ll always cherish.

Niki Davison, Special Projects Producer

My highlight for the year was Making Time – this is the third year I have had the privilege of producing this event for CAN and each year it becomes an even bigger and more joyous day.

The aim of Making Time is to provide a day for artists and arts workers to come together to connect, create and reflect on the year. It's always a beautiful way to end the year and the 2024 iteration – Making Time: Stronger Together – really provided such a perfect space to do this, with an amazing group of presenters and artists to lead the day and bring us all together!

Tegan Jenkins, High VisAbility Producer

Joining the CAN Team in April this year was such an unexpected delight. To be pulled into a project which blends my fandom of Mandy White, with my passion for bringing the arts into schools, while promoting and elevating outsider artists, was a dream!

High VisAbility is my ultimate highlight. Working with Sir David Brand School was illuminating and inspiring. Watching Mandy bloom into the arts facilitator she seems to made to be, and working alongside the force that is Natalie Scholtz, was all just so fun and fabulous and meaningful. Michelle White guided the way for this project and she's taught me so much about how to hold all of these voices strong amongst the noise. Being able to play, and organically build such stunning artworks with the students and then to show these works at PICA in September, and FORM Gallery next year is mind-blowing.

This project gives me immense hope and trust that things are always getting better. Slowly but surely.

Pictured top: The CAN fam at the Doontanboro Kura exhibition opening // credit Michelle Troop