Veteran ABC news presenter, Richard Morecroft, opened the DAWE Studio last night, congratulating sisters Morna and Megan Seres on their vision to create a space where the local community could gather and express their creativity in many forms.

The Studio, situated on the first floor of the pink Italianate 1880 building in Manning Street, will offer drama classes, art workshops, writing workshops and other arts events (hence the name, DAWE).

Both sisters have impressive, different careers in the arts and now live here, having holidayed in the area as children.

Morna’s background is in drama and writing, and so much more.

She studied at NIDA, appeared in Heartbreak High, My Two Wives, Water Rats, and did some theatre, before completing a law degree.

She then worked with designer Collette Dinnigan before starting her own fashion PR company. After gaining a Masters degree in human rights, she worked as head of the Human Rights Watch in Australia.

“Then I tried my hand at writing,” she says.

Her debut novel Cloud Failure was awarded a 2018 Varuna Residency Fellowship and shortlisted for the 2020 Penguin Literary Prize.

In their new space, Morna will be teaching drama and writing, and will produce a series of ‘In Conversation’ talks with actors, artists and writers.

Her equally accomplished sister, Megan, graduated with 1st Class honours from the National Art School in Sydney and was the recipient of the 2016 Doug Moran Portrait prize. She has been a finalist in 27 art prizes nationally. Her work is held in numerous private and public collections.

In 2016, Megan won the richest art prize in the world, the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, for a portrait of her daughter titled: Scarlett as Colonial Girl

Additional projects have included paintings for the TV series Love My Way, portrait commissions, writing submissions for Art Almanac and National Association of the Visual Arts (NAVA) teaching workshops, mentoring, artist talks and art prize judging.

She is already well known in Kiama for her art workshops, which will now be held at the new studio.

“We are committed to fostering and nurturing talent in drama, art and writing. Our instructors will bring an abundance of knowledge to teach skills, enhance what you already know and help you connect with others in a safe environment,” Morna says.

The opening night

The opening exhibition features works by 20 emerging and established artists – including Robyn Sharp, Halinka Orszulok, Anna Glynn and Richard Morecroft – is open Wednesday – Saturday, 11-4pm, until 14 May. Classes and workshops are have also been scheduled.

www.thedawestudio.com.au Upstairs, 18 Manning St (entry by driveway)