ASPIR member SESSIONS
*** No sessions during the Christmas/New Year period. Check individual listings for upcoming dates ***
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These creative sessions are open to ASPIR members.
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We coordinate sessions and activities regularly each month and provide a range of experiences and support to members.
Note: There may be an additional cost if a sitter is engaged.
Life Drawing
First Monday of the month
CREATIVE ARTS STATION
9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Model fee payable on the day
*** the next session is
Monday 2 February 2026
Suitable for all skill levels, these are untutored sessions with a model. Bring your own materials.​ Paper is available for 20c per sheet.
​​(Image: Félix Vallotton, public domain via Wikimedia Commons)
Appraise and connect
Third Wednesday of the month
creative arts station
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
*** the next session is
wednesday 18 February 2026
Phone Marian on 0430 274 666 for more information.
An opportunity for ASPIR members to meet for lively discussions, ideas and inspiration, and encouragement for works in progress.
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Bring work in progress, if you like.
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(Image: Beryl King)
Textile art group
two saturday mornings each month
creative arts station
Phone Shirley on 0410 584 025 for dates and times.
Working with all sorts of textiles and a broad range of skills this group meets twice a month. Textile Art Group members create special shared projects and bring in local artisans to teach and inspire.
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(Image: Textile from ASPIR photo library)
Portraits
second tuesday of the month
creative arts station
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
*** the next sessions are
tuesday 9 December 2025
tuesday 10 February 2026
Phone Gay on 0425 728 323 for more information.
Bring your own materials and enjoy drawing or painting a portrait from life. To cover the cost of the sitter there is a fee payable on the day.
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(Image: Rhythms by Joseph La Pira)
Ibis Writers
First Tuesday of the month
VIETNAM VETERANS MUSEUM, NEWHAVEN
1:00 pm
Contact Ian Robinson on 0407 250 024 or gurdies@australiaonline.net.au
New members are welcome at Ibis - we cater for novice writers and those with plenty of experience.
If you revel in the written word – or would like to – consider joining Ibis Writers. Members meet at 1pm on the first Tuesday of each month (except Easter and Melbourne Cup Day).
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At the meetings members read from their work in progress and receive support and suggestions from the others. Work includes the latest instalment of ongoing fiction and memoirs, short stories, children’s books and poetry.
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Lively discussion is guaranteed, as writers provide constructive feedback to each other. This often leads to debate about topics of interest. The writing shared may be funny, poignant, thought-provoking, informative and stimulating. There’s precedent for the occasional tear and there is plenty of encouragement.
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​(Image: FA Barboza on Unsplash)
en Plein Air
Third Monday of the month
Locations vary
from 10:00 AM
Phone Froney on 0438 592 305 for the location if it's not listed below.
This group provides an informal session where artists meet in the local landscape to paint or draw - weather permitting. Please bring all you need with you.
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This is an open group, so please bring a friend. All are welcome to
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Monday September 15th - PICAL Community Garden, 119 Settlement Road, Cowes
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Monday October 20th - Rhyll Jetty, Beach Road, Rhyll
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Monday November 17th - Miranda & Albert’s garden, 1 Ocean Grove, San Remo (parking in carpark near Foreshore Caravan Park)
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Monday December 15th - The car park area at the Cowes Cemetery in Coghlans Road.
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2026
Monday January 19th - Pyramid Rock
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Monday February 16th - Miranda & Albert’s garden, 1 Ocean Grove, San Remo (parking in carpark near Foreshore Caravan Park)
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(Image: The Wave by Miranda Sage)
COME AND CREATE
SECOND AND FOURTH THURSDAY of the month
AT THE CREATIVE ARTS STATION
from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
These are informal sessions so you can try out drawing or painting. Members can get to know each other better, and non-members are welcome to come along too.
The first two sessions are free.
Then it is $5 per session for non-members, and free for members.
Bring along a drawing or painting project you are working on. Or just just come for a cuppa and some creative inspiration.
A volunteer ASPIR member will be there to conduct the session, and there will be some materials available.
​​(Image: Artist painting from ASPIR photo library)