Want to turn casual followers into a loyal, active community? Join us for a hands-on, deep-dive workshop designed to take your community engagement from abstract concept to actionable plan.
Following Inner West Council’s Creative Toolbox Learning Lab and by popular demand, Inner West Creative Network are bringing community engagement expert Wanyika Mshila back! She brings a practical, relationship-driven approach to audience building, helping artists move beyond marketing alone to create genuine connection, relevance and long-term engagement with communities.
Speaking to community engagement as an artist, differs to how organisations speak about it. Wanyika will show you how to lean into your artist superpower, tease out the nuances and use that relatable edge. In this interactive session—presented in partnership with Inner West Council as part of the Creative Toolbox series —you’ll move past theory and actually start drafting your customised community engagement strategy on the spot.
What you’ll get out of it:
o Real-time execution: Walk away with the initial blueprint of your engagement strategy already written.
o Peer collaboration: Share ideas and gather fresh perspectives from fellow creatives.
o Expert feedback: Get direct guidance and advice on your draft from Wanyika.
If you are an artist or creative struggling with building and engaging your community, don’t miss the chance to refine your approach, test your ideas in a supportive space, and build a strategy that resonates with audiences.
When: Wednesday 28th October, 6:30 - 8:30pm
Where: 21 Shepherd Street, Marrickville
Book to secure your place - Free for IWCN Members, $10 general admission
Presented by Inner West Creative Network, supported by Inner West Council as part of Creative Toolbox
About The Inner West Creative Network
The Inner West Creative Network is an artist-run, not-for-profit organisation that seeks to provide Inner West artists and creatives with a mechanism for connecting with each other and opportunities to enhance the business aspects and sustainability of their practice.
The network aims to promote and make visible the diverse range of art-making practices and creations to audiences from far and wide and, at a time of radical change, assist creatives by advocating ideas and needs to those who can provide support.
Meet the Facilitator
Wanyika Mshila is a Kenyan-born Australian community engagement specialist, cultural strategist and changemaker with over 15 years of experience connecting artists, institutions and communities across the arts and cultural sector. Her work focuses on audience development, cultural inclusion and building meaningful relationships with communities that have historically been underrepresented in the arts.
Wanyika has led and consulted on audience engagement initiatives for organisations including the Sydney Opera House, Belvoir, Griffin Theatre Company and Art Gallery of New South Wales. Her work includes community engagement and audience strategy for acclaimed productions such as Hot Brown Honey and Seven Methods of Killing Kylie Jenner, helping connect bold, culturally significant work with new and diverse audiences.
Known for bridging the gap between artists and audiences, she brings a practical, relationship-driven approach to audience building ,helping artists move beyond marketing alone to create genuine connection, relevance and long-term engagement with communities.
She currently sits on the Board of African Film Festival Australia and is the Community Engagement Manager at the Sydney Opera House.
