Spotlight on Venessa Crane
Venessa Crane is a proud recipient of the 2024/25 Arts and Creativity Grants program for her theatrical work Me and My Shadows. This poignant production uses metaphor to explore vital contemporary themes such as mental health and life’s struggles. The project brought together a diverse creative team of over 30 artists, including writers, actors, musicians, choir members, puppeteers, and lighting technicians, showcasing the power of collaborative storytelling.
Oxygen-deprived during birth and diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, Venessa faced significant challenges throughout her childhood. Yet, she cultivated a rich inner world fueled by imagination and creativity that became the foundation of her artistic journey.
Our Local Creatives
Each month we showcase some of the talented people who live and work in our community, exploring the diversity of artistic and creative practices on the Northern Beaches.
Our creative community
The Northern Beaches is home to a higher than average percentage of artists, creatives and cultural workers.
Our local creative community generated $915 million in value added for the Northern Beaches in 2022/23. This is 6.1% of total Gross Value Added, above the Greater Sydney average (5.1%). Our artists and creatives are the drivers of a vibrant local economy.
Architectural Services was the top employing Creative and Cultural industry in the Northern Beaches, and Advertising Services was the top industry for employed residents living in the Northern Beaches. Book and magazine wholesaling employed 2.8 times more people than the Greater Sydney average, and photography was the largest specialised occupation with 2 times more people employed than the Greater Sydney average.
Our creative economy supported 6,992 local jobs (6% of total jobs in the LGA) and provided employment for 11,832 residents (7.4% of all employed residents) in 2022/23.
Download the Creative and Cultural Sector Report 2022-23
Stay in touch
Keep in touch with arts and creativity on the Northern Beaches with Creative News.
