This summer, Wyndham City will create an exciting and innovative new pop up retail space in Werribee City Centre to support local creatives, designers and artists showcase their products.
The MADE on Watton pilot project will transform a vacant tenancy at 90 Watton Street into a curated, market-style experience featuring original, high quality hand-made textiles, stationary, ceramics, homewares and jewellery.
As well as supporting local creatives hit hard by COVID-19, this short-term activation is part of Wyndham City's recovery efforts to bring people back to our City Centre and reactivate our retail spaces.
Wyndham City Mayor Adele Hegedich, said MADE on Watton will also give shoppers a unique shopping experience, where they can meet and buy direct from our amazing local designers and makers.
"We know that our local creative industry has been hit hard during COVID-19, and it has been particularly challenging for those emerging artists and designers who would normally do their businesses through markets and stalls," Cr Hegedich said.
"That's why this summer, Wyndham City will create an innovative pop up retail space in Werribee City Centre to give a leg up to Wyndham makers, designers and artists."
"MADE - which stands for Makers, Artists, Designers and Entrepreneurs - is an opportunity to celebrate local artisans, showcase their creations, and give them the opportunity to test their product in a commercial environment."
Wyndham City Creative City portfolio holder, Councillor Marcel Mahfoud, said MADE on Watton draws on similar successful models in Newcastle and Adelaide.
"It's a win, win - emerging creatives can build commercial experience and test their ideas in a space not otherwise being used and it provides new reasons to visit and to shop in our city centre," Cr Mahfoud said.
"Now more than ever, it's important to support local, and we've made it even easier for you by bringing together local, creators and artists under one roof."
MADE on Watton is expected to launch in January 2021, with expressions for interest now open for stallholders at www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/madeonwatton
