Our community of RAV Members consists of 750+ individual practising artists and creative organisations across Victoria. These members are the engine room of creative activity across our state. They have a reach far and wide, with some 800,000 people enjoying our members’ projects and events every year!
Over the last 12-months we’ve been working on strengthening our Membership Engagement program to provide meaningful opportunities for our members to participate, collaborate and contribute within their communities and with the RAV team.
While continuing with the successful RAV-in-Residence program, where RAV partners with local LGAs and organisations to provide one-on-one sessions and workshops for local creatives, we have also introduced two more engagement programs aimed at inspiring, connecting and empowering our members.
Member Meet-ups
Our series of Member Meet-ups provides opportunities for local members to get together before or after RAV-supported shows or projects along with local RAV staff. The meet-ups help to boost attendance numbers to the shows, while also providing an opportunity for local artists to connect with each other and RAV staff. Member meet-ups have been held in 14 towns in the past year including Portland, Kyneton, Fish Creek, Numurkah and Apollo Bay with approximately 140 members attending across the state.
“The Apollo Bay meet-up was a great chance to spend time with creative people in my area, some I met for the first time. It was good to feel connected and learn a bit about other people’s creative practice.”
—RAV Member after attending the Member Meet-up in Apollo Bay in September 2024
Online Lunchtime Information Sessions
We have also introduced a series of online lunchtime information sessions which aim to provide informal and friendly online forums to hear about a broad range of topics, such as how to get started in community broadcasting, how auspicing works, working with Museums Victoria, understanding contracts in creative practice and more. Around 252 members have taken advantage of these free online sessions so far.
“I’m buzzing with excitement … I loved the opportunity to push my creativity”
—RAV Member after attending the Museum Victoria’s Inaugural Gold Jewellery Acquisitive Prize Information Session
Images from our Member Meet-up at Portland Art Centre, August 2025