What is the Wunder Gym?
Wunder Gym is a practical art program to stretch and satisfy creative curiosity. Emerging, established or simply curious creatives will revel in the opportunity to extend their skills and practice through unique project briefs, artist and scientist mentorships and group exhibition outcomes.
Founded by Melbourne creative all-rounder Annette Wagner, Wunder Gym aims to support creative exploration and build creative confidence for members at all career stages.
Through the Wunder Gym’s unique program design, artists gain creative confidence, build peer and industry networks, further their artistic and creative careers without HECs debt and achieve CV worthy exhibition outcomes. Supporting artistic and creative practice, delivered both online and in real life, WG offers an affordable entry point and alternative learning pathways to art education, with a real return on investment built-in.
how does it Support arts & Cultural Teams to build community engagement?
Wunder Gym has refined its delivery over the years and found the most impact is creating programs that support both Local Government Arts and Cultural Teams deliver unique creative and arts orientated programs to its community.
“The biggest benefit for us as an Arts Team has been connection with community. During COVID, Wunder Gym became a shared experience we could have with the creative community whilst still in lockdowns. The program has since evolved into one of greatest networking tools.”
Annette’s passion for emerging / developing creatives is infectious. She creates a safe and supportive space for playing and experimentation which gives participants permission to explore. The mentors are well briefed and therefore generous with their knowledge and advice.
Annette’s sense of adventure is one of her greatest assets. She always strives for the best possible experience and outcome for our community members and is supportive of their ongoing endeavours. She is thoughtful and considered in her programming briefs and I always appreciated and value her prompt and clear communication and we always know who is delivering what parts of the projects.
The programming expense is not insignificant, but in the case of Wyndham City, it has been invaluable in terms of its return on artist and community development. We’ve seen increased participation across the board, collaborations between community members and individual practice development and external opportunities for creatives. All of which would not have happened without Wunder Gym.”
Trish Carlon, Arts Development Officer, Arts, Cultural & Events Wyndham City Council.
“I wanted to say a huge thank you for all your help and guidance. Wunder Gym has allowed me to get out of my shell and create work that I want to make. The Wyndham Art Prize was announced on Wednesday and I was very surprised to have received the LEAP award. It just puts so much clarity to the work I make and that the judges appreciated it as well.”
Nandita Nadkarni
LEAP Prize (Local Emerging Art Prize) 2023 wining work Wyndham Art Prize 2023.
Nandita Nadkarni, Crafted Clay Odyssey, 2023. ceramic, wood and metal.
Where is the Wunder Gym?
Wunder Gym is where your community is. Working with local governments and institutions, each program is developed in conjunction with you and your community, giving both the participating artists and the creative community the best opportunity to network and celebrate the programs artistic and creative outcome.
Wunder Gym can coordinate exhibition locations outside of your community, extending community reach to broader audiences and experiences outcome of the community.
ABOUT THE FOUNDER - ANnette Wagner
The Wunder Gym concept was conceived by founder Annette Wagner, a multi-disciplined conceptual artist and creative director who facilitates innovative cultures through the arts and creativity.
“The Wunder Gym started by wanting to establish an artistic and creative community for myself. With established mentors and real opportunities to continue to develop and exhibit my work. I missed art school. I missed the support and encouragement to explore artistic and creative work. I missed the access to established artists who offered insight and direction. I wanted to exhibit the work I created, and exhibiting is sometimes competitive and costly. I wanted an art school environment that wouldn’t demand the same time and cost investment or compete with real-life commitments.”
Having completed art studies at Central St. Martins, London and Victoria College of the Arts with first class honours, she continues to develop her own arts practice and creative exploration. She has supported herself by worked in advertising, research and communications for over 20 years and is AWARD school trained with post graduate studies in business. Additionally, as a passionate teacher and facilitator she has developed and delivered curriculum for TAFE and lectured at La Trobe University.
“ I’m incredibly proud of the Wunder Gym, which I liken to a ‘cabinet of curiosity’, or ‘a place to build a library of creative experiments to coach the imagination’. Since launching in July 2019, the program has been proven to work, with established artists, scientists and creative leaders as mentors. Members in the public program and members who participated through the Wyndham City Council Local Government sponsored program have benefited by building creative confidence working on projects with exhibiting outcomes. With plans for further expansion offering a corporate professional development program to bring creativity and commerce together, facilitate integrating industry silos and enable companies to nurture innovative, engaged and empowered teams through its unique delivery.”
Wagner’s foundational philosophy is ‘the idea and its strategic implementation’, maintaining a vision to bring artistic and creative exploration, experimentation and cross disciplinary enlightenment to greater audiences. Inspiring engagement by encouraging ordinary to become extraordinary.
