ECOSS Creative Collective
Looking for creative skills, programming or work for your next project?
ECOSS has a rich history of creative output, hosting events, workshops and the weekly Valley Market with an array of local makers and producers. Many of our onsite co-locators are creative artists and makers. Our regular hirers and staff also contribute to our rich event program.
Get in touch to find out more or book our Creative Collective here at ECOSS.
The Dreaming Space
The Dreaming Space was founded by Claire and Chris James in 2010, a husband and wife team that decided to change the world one smile at a time! They spend their time curating festivals for regional and metro councils and regularly work with schools. Their sister company – Melbourne Stretch Marquess – caters Melbourne events , providing for infrastructure, staging and diverse programming. Pulling together a huge roster of artists, they have been bringing diverse performing arts programming to the Yarra Valley and beyond. During Covid restrictions, Chris and Clare set up their circus tent dome at ECOSS and formed the ECOSS Creative Collective. They run weekly circus classes for kids and regularly contribute entertainment and infrastructure at ECOSS events and festivals.
Kofi Kunkpe Music
Kofi Kunkpe is an Ewe master drummer and multi-instrumentalist from the Volta Region of Ghana who has performed and taught with a wide variety of Ghanaian and international companies from around the world. In 2012 Kofi moved to the Yarra Valley. Since this time he has performed and taught extensively throughout metropolitan and regional Victoria and New South Wales. He conducts regular classes in his regional area at Yarra Valley ECOSS on a weekly basis as well as leading Yarra Valley Drummers and co-creating West African Immersion at ECOSS. As a percussionist Kofi has worked with many of Melbourne’s best African performers. Kofi is a skilled bass player who plays regularly with some of Melbourne’s best African and contemporary musicians.
Woody Clark / Woody’s World Productions
Woody is a musician, children’s performer & school teacher. He is the founder of Woody’s World Productions & Woody’s Ukulele School. He has toured throughout Australia with his family band since 2014, playing some of the biggest family festivals in the country. Woody has written songs for ABC Kids, produced community music events & worked with remote indigenous communities for over a decade. As a music educator, Woody’s Ukulele School has now taught over 8,000 kids & families to play the ukulele across the country. Woody regularly works with ECOSS to deliver a diverse program of events.
Shlomit Moria
Shlomit Moria is a wood sculptor and a chainsaw carver. Based at ECOSS, she established Bushwood Creations in mid 2015 and creates her works of art from reclaimed and salvaged timbers. She started selling her creations through markets, galleries and online shops, and in 2018 ventured into the world of private and public commissions, developing works for playgrounds and public spaces, schools and private individuals. Shlomit has a university degree in Graphic Art and is a member of the Association of Sculpture Victoria and Yarra Valley Arts. She participates in the annual Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, and her work has been presented at many group exhibitions, including the prestigious Yering Sculpture Prize.
Lucy Pierce
Lucy Pierce is a co-locator artist at ECOSS who runs the Pottery Studio and has a regular stall at the ECOSS Valley Market. Her artwork is inspired by the deeply interior relationships of the soul-life to Nature, Spirit and Kin. She is trained in Fine Art, majoring in Ceramics at RMIT, I now live in the beautiful Yarra Ranges, in Victoria, Australia, with her beloved partner and 3 beautiful children. She works as an artist, writer and potter and her work can be found on her ETSY store.
Leanne Hall
Leanne has a history of community art managment, establishing the Yalley Market at ECOSS and Warburton. She is the event producer at ECOSS and coordinates the Creative Collective and venue hire at ECOSS. Aside from her background in event production, Leanne has vast experience as a musician, producer, community events organiser and program coordinator over the past 12 years. Leanne has a Diploma in Community Development and plays percussion performing as part of The Anecdote, Awol
Monks and Yarra Valley Drummers touring throughout Australia at Festivals such as Woodford Folk Festival and Illawarra Folk Festival. Leanne’s current work roles include: Yarra Valley ECOSS- Community Engagement, Festivals, Events and Market Coordinator; The Valley Market Warburton- Market Coordinator; Yarra Ranges Council- Art Activations Support Officer.
