Turning Creative Ideas into Dreams with Sunshine Coast Arts Foundation
The Sunshine Coast Arts Foundation (SCAF) is proving that philanthropy is more than a gift. Nicole May uncovers how SCAF enables artists like Libby Derham to push the boundaries of traditional watercolour into experimental new territories.
In the creative space of Alsahwa Estate’s ethos restaurant, Emeritus Professor Jennifer Radbourne, Chair of Sunshine Coast Arts Foundation (SCAF), spoke to the transformative power of the arts for the Business in the Arts Lunch. Her message was clear: ‘In a region as gifted as the Sunshine Coast, our artists are our greatest assets’.
“SCAF believes a gift is an investment,” Professor Radbourne explained to the guests. “Our artists foster creativity, critical thinking, and innovation -skills essential to a productive society”.
It is this philosophy that drives SCAF’s Gifted Program, a direct-funding initiative designed to bridge the gap between an artist’s pipeline dream and professional fruition. For Libby Derham, a fourth-generation watercolourist based in Palmwoods, this support was the catalyst for a project that redefined her practice. Libby doesn’t just paint landscapes; she captures the very air around her.
“I begin by transcribing birdsong,” Libby says, her voice reflecting the quiet focus of her plein-air work. “I use a pencil and listen to their sounds and transcribe that into a line.”
This deeply personal process – rooted in her grandfather’s traditional English watercolour techniques but pushed into the contemporary forefront – took an experimental leap thanks to SCAF philanthropic funding. Through the Gifted Program, Libby was able to collaborate with sound engineers to explore cymatics: the visualisation of sound.
“If you can picture this, we laid a subwoofer speaker on its back and were able to bring the sounds of Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve into the speaker and allow the specific sounds to then vibrate on the membrane,” Libby explains.
Using a petri dish with liquid and watercolour paper, Libby then ‘live painted’ the vibrations of the birdsong, capturing the reaction of pigment to sound.
“Something you would normally just dream of but not actually see come to life,” Libby shares.
For Libby, whose journey has been shaped by understanding the sensory profiles of her children, this ability to lose oneself in the visual and auditory world is vital for mental health and connection to nature. The Sunshine Coast currently boasts one of the highest concentrations of artists in Australia, and Professor Radbourne said the Foundation holds a significant leadership role in the arts on the Sunshine Coast.
“Art achieves its highest moment when it is valued by the beholder,” she says. “So, peace, beauty, inspiration, connection, wonder and even challenge emerge.”
Through professional development, mentoring, and entrepreneurship, SCAF supports everyone from visual artists and filmmakers to Indigenous craft workers and musicians. Professor Radbourne’s call to action isn’t just for big business; it is for anyone who values the cultural heartbeat of the Coast. Whether it’s bringing murals into a workspace or office, donating directly for a tax deduction, or attending the upcoming Annual Giving Campaign, every bit of support helps an emerging artist reach their pipeline dream.
For local artists, Libby’s success serves as a roadmap. She now acts as a mentor and advocate, encouraging her peers to engage with the Foundation.
“It’s great to see the network within the Sunshine Coast really develop and become a strong advocate for visual arts,” she notes.
The work of SCAF ensures that the stories, sounds, and colours of our region aren’t just passing whispers, but an artistic legacy for future generations. Whether you’re an artist or an art lover, to donate or create, visit www.scartsfoundation.com for more.
