The Story.
Because we live our lives, are part of this community and our love of Gertrude St.
We wanted to give back. Help shape a positive community future for Gertrude St Fitzroy. We wanted to start local, but our ideas are global.
Monique has run her busines on Gertrude St [ located at 69 Gertrude St ] since 2000
Kym lives in Fitzroy and has family connections to the area.
Monique had a creative community project that had brewed for many a year as a response to the changes on the street and the demographic of the area. Kym had wanted to project holograms in the laneways. Ideas collided and collaborated. Together they decided to make it happen.
On 17th April 2007, out of a love for Gertrude St, the collaborative partnership between Monique McNamara, (Creative strategist, Producer and Company Director of UP&UP Creative ) and Kym Ortenburg (Producer, company director and local resident) began.
Out of the fusion between passion and ethos to produce culturally engaging, inclusive, sustainable community art projects they formed the Gertrude Association.
TGA
Ethos
We get stuff done.
We are into action + doing through creative collaboration for social change.
Who
We are a not for profit, Incorporated Association.
We produce projects expressed by the our community.
What
We are about advocacy and connections through art - celebrating cultural, social and artistic diversity to create community connectedness. We act locally to provide inspiration and create a global impact through sharing what we have done in Melbourne with the world. We call this process "To Gertrufy".
Where
The Association was inspired and created by the community on Gertrude Street Fitzroy, in Melbourne, Australia.
We act locally to provide inspiration and create a global impact through sharing what we have done in Melbourne with the world.
How
We call our process of integrating community, celebration and art "To Gertrufy".
To Gertrufy: The celebration of cultural, social and artistic diversity and community connectedness.
Gertrification: process Gertrufy [ge].v.[ Gertrufies, Getrurfied ] derivatives Gertrufication noun
Aim
- To produce projects expressed by our community
- To provide an opportunity for diverse communities to engage in and exhibit arts and media projects
- To enhance community connectedness.
- We would like to see the "Gertrufy" spirit spread to other cities, communities and towns.
Objectives
- To help promote a neighbourly and cohesive community
- To provide opportunities for people to encounter art as part of their everyday experience.
- To promote inclusive cultural respect
- To produce interconnected projects that raise awareness of issues, profiles and creative talents
- To show support to our community
Our office bearers
The Association's office bearers were elected at our first offical meeting, they are:
President:
Maria Frendo, Dante's Restaurant [www.dantesfitzroy.com]
Vice President:
Eddie Zammit, T-World Magazine [www.T-world.com]
Treasurer:
Angeline Wuysang, Bookkeeping Service
Management:
Monique McNamara, UP&UP Creative [www.upandup.com.au] and Sprinkler Creative Collection [www.Sprinkler.CC]
Kym Ortenburg info@thegertrudeassociation.com
