About Q Art - Endeavour Foundation
QArt Gallery operates as an Australian Disability Enterprise which provides employment, mentoring and training for professional artists with intellectual and physical disabilities. The employment and recognition afforded to the artists gives them a sense of pride in who they are and what they do and an identity in the community.
Our Story
QArt exhibits and sells the artists’ work in the Gallery, located in Kew. The work of the artists is also used as the basis for mass produced products such as greeting cards, aprons, t-towels, limited edition prints and art tiles.
QArt Studio, part of Endeavour Foundation is a commercially focused disability employer. We believe that all Australians’ deserve the opportunity to participate in the workplace in roles that are active, progressive and build upon their personal capabilities.
QArt Studio is able to provide real jobs with real wages in a supportive and growing environment. Our profits are distributed back into the organisation to grow the business, increase our capacity and skills, and improve the health and wellbeing of our employees.
Our work is professional, creative and contemporary.
By purchasing artwork from QArt Studio and Gallery – in store or online – our artists enjoy secure employment, and productive and engaged lives within the community.
QArt Studio employs artists with disabilities in real jobs with real wages.
What art means to me and what I enjoy most about it….
From Jan Rowlinson – manager
I love seeing the reaction of first time visitors to the Gallery. They walk into the old heritage listed building and are greeted by vibrant colour, walls covered with paintings of birds, flowers, crazy patterns and animals. The ceramics are bright and unusual, wrapping paper is all hand-drawn and the jewelry is unique as it is made in the Gallery.
…. And then they learn that it is all made by artists with intellectual disability!
The delight and respect is obvious.
And we have made a customer for life
The QArt studio is a very happy place. It is a typical art studio - messy, lots of paint, paper, pencils and brushes all over the place. There are unfinished canvases, ceramic pieces, drawings and books.
We always have music playing. The age of the artists vary from the youngest at 21 to the oldest at 71 so the preferences are as varied. Everyone gets a chance to listen to what they like. Frank Sinatra is played often! And the younger ones moan.
We work hard but in a relaxed way - the atmosphere is friendly and inspiring. We work in collaboration - so the artists often work together. Gordon, our studio supervisor and the volunteers also work with the artists, teaching them new techniques or assisting with colours or drawings.
The studio and Gallery are successful because we set a very high standard. Our work is professional and contemporary.
We are always looking at what is new, trendy but unusual.
We are also successful because we are part of the community - the people of Kew and indeed of Melbourne, not only know of the history of QArt (because of the sadness of Kew Cottages)* but have a fondness for our artists and their incredible talent.
We are very visitor friendly - not only at the Gallery but we love visitors in the studio. We are so proud of what we do.