~ Our History ~

Mixed Palette Inc. began in Rockingham in 2006 as a part of Nulsen Disability Services under the name Community Art Room. In 2010 it began operating independently with volunteer support and was awarded the 2012 Community Inclusion Award by the City of Rockingham. 

 In 2015 the Community Art Room became incorporated with the new name, Mixed Palette Inc. The organisation’s continuing success is evident through group projects, works sold at exhibition and State and National awards for individual artists.

The group began workshops in 2006 at the Warnbro Family and Community Centre. The numbers of participants and their range of creative involvement grew. At the same time the Community Centre was adapting to the needs of young children in the area who also required a permanent space for their activities. The space became less able to meet the requirements of creative adults.

It was the group’s great fortune to be able to transfer to the then Challenger TAFE ceramics room in Rockingham. This large, designated art space was accessible to all. Participants could gather their materials and work independently. It also provided the group with much needed storage of materials as well as work in progress and finished work. Numbers grew and participants were able to experiment with new techniques and mediums and continue to develop personal styles.

In 2008 the group again needed to find a suitable space when the TAFE ceramics room also changed its purpose. Eventually this was provided in the form of a small garden shed at Ngulla Community Nursery. Despite the limitations of the little shed the bushland provided a beautiful setting and the staff were supportive of our values and goals while our search for more appropriate accommodation continued.

It is remarkable that, even with the extreme temperatures and cramped conditions in our shed, the core group of artists continued to attend as well as several new participants. 

At the end of 2010 The Community Art Room left Ngulla Community Nursery. A community space could not be found but the core group of artists were able to continue producing their work at a private residence in Rockingham with voluntary support.

The group shifted for a time to Marilla House where the management committee allocated a small garage with storage space for the group’s art practice. The facility was not accessible but with the extra space able to be provided within the house our numbers grew.

 In 2015 the group shifted again to the Star of the Sea Out of School Care as Marilla House itself was relocating. The space was not entirely suited to experimenting with a range of art practices, but it was accessible, and the staff not only ensured that we felt part of their community but undertook a number of fund-raising activities on the group’s behalf. 

In 2016 group became incorporated, taking the name Mixed Palette Inc. and was successful in securing grants from the City of Rockingham and the Community Arts Network.In June 2017 we moved once again to a spacious hall, full of light and with storage in the grounds of the Alfred Hines Holiday Homes (now the Seaside Holiday Homes for Children) in Rockingham. The artwork produced here demonstrated how important the physical environment is for the creative experience. Workshop numbers also increased.

​In 2021 the committee at the Seaside Holiday Homes could no longer accommodate the artists at their facility. After a short break, a temporary space was located at the Rockingham Central Library.
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