Fusion and the Arts – A Brief History

Responding creatively to the felt needs of the community since 1960

Throughout its history, Fusion’s work has developed in close relationship to the arts. Mal Garvin, its Founding Director began his first youth-work activities by involving homeless young people in his practice as a gold and silver smith in Hornsby, Sydney. Since that time, the development of creativity in individuals has been a core value and strategy in all of Fusion’s work. Similarly, Fusion has worked extensively through a wide range of performing and visual art mediums, cultivating cutting-edge creative responses to the perceived needs of the community and developing artists with a desire to positively impact their communities through an extensive range of initiatives and programs.

Fusion’s integration of the arts started with music, went on to drama and street theatre, the visual arts, and finally, the establishment of Fusion’s first Arts Colony in Mornington, Victoria. Artists such as Dave Hammond, Tony Williams, Rod & Vivienne Boucher, Tim Ambrose, Dave Parker, Wendy Culley, Mike Head, Chris Neild, Peter Gray, Gerry Holmes, Steve Bell, Dennis Clair, Bill Perry, Glynn Nicholas and Scott Rankin have all made significant contributions to Fusion’s artistic and cultural development, with many getting involved during the 70’s and 80’s, and a large proportion going on to become successful professional artists and leaders in their field.