Connection Arts Space
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Acknowledgement of Country
The Connection Arts Space Gallery is located at 1 Walker Street, Dandenong, on the unceded lands of the Woi-Wurrung and Boon Wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation.
We acknowledge and pay respect to the Traditional Custodians and Elders – Past and present of the Kulin Nation on which we connect and create.
Connection Arts Space recognises Aboriginal connection to material and creative practice on these lands for more than 60,000 years and First Nation peoples’ enduring presence and knowledge that continues to nurture the Land, Water and Space we share.
Our Team
We love what we do, and we do it with passion.
Fathiah Raihan
Director of CAS
Program Facilitator
(She/Her)
Fathiah is a multidisciplinary artist, facilitator and director of CAS creating on Boonwurrung Country, south-east Naarm.
As a student art therapist and emerging practitioner, she is held and shaped by the continuum of Bla(c)k and Brown healers, community leaders and artists in their knowledge of collective healing, resilience and co-creation in her work. Her faith + spirituality, Malay roots, friends + fam and cultural practices of henna, batik and carving have been consistent anchors to ritual, intimacy and strength.
She believes in the agency of the arts to re-centre, shift and create sustainable futures for generations to come. Fathiah seeks to nurture voices that are underrepresented by mainstream arts spaces, focusing on the relationship as the project.
Director of CAS
Program Facilitator
(She/Her)
Fathiah is a multidisciplinary artist, facilitator and director of CAS creating on Boonwurrung Country, south-east Naarm.
As a student art therapist and emerging practitioner, she is held and shaped by the continuum of Bla(c)k and Brown healers, community leaders and artists in their knowledge of collective healing, resilience and co-creation in her work. Her faith + spirituality, Malay roots, friends + fam and cultural practices of henna, batik and carving have been consistent anchors to ritual, intimacy and strength.
She believes in the agency of the arts to re-centre, shift and create sustainable futures for generations to come. Fathiah seeks to nurture voices that are underrepresented by mainstream arts spaces, focusing on the relationship as the project.
Nyalat Pel kun
Human Resource Co-ordinator
(She/Her)
Nyalat is a proud Nuer woman and Human Resource professional with 3+ years of experience in the Non-for-profit sector. Nyalat joined Connection Art Space (CAS) in 2019 as the Human Resource Coordinator. She believes that the best part of joining CAS is supporting and watching volunteers as they learn, grow and step into their best version of themselves. Another bounce of volunteering for CAS is discovering the many amazing eateries within Dandenong
(Thank you, Andrew + Gen).
Human Resource Co-ordinator
(She/Her)
Nyalat is a proud Nuer woman and Human Resource professional with 3+ years of experience in the Non-for-profit sector. Nyalat joined Connection Art Space (CAS) in 2019 as the Human Resource Coordinator. She believes that the best part of joining CAS is supporting and watching volunteers as they learn, grow and step into their best version of themselves. Another bounce of volunteering for CAS is discovering the many amazing eateries within Dandenong
(Thank you, Andrew + Gen).
Andrew Duong
Grants Co-ordinator
(He/Him)
I'm an artist living on Bunurong land. I've completed my Bachelors in Business and Visual Arts, and Fine Art (Honours), and I've had the fortune of being part of CAS since it started in 2015. I'm passionate about creating arts opportunities in the south-east and collaborating with creatives in this amazing community that I feel most connected to through football, family and art.
Grants Co-ordinator
(He/Him)
I'm an artist living on Bunurong land. I've completed my Bachelors in Business and Visual Arts, and Fine Art (Honours), and I've had the fortune of being part of CAS since it started in 2015. I'm passionate about creating arts opportunities in the south-east and collaborating with creatives in this amazing community that I feel most connected to through football, family and art.
Leah Shyra
Creative Producer
(she/her)
Leah Shyra is an early career visual artist and arts worker, born in Hyderabad (India) and now living/practicing on unceded land (Naarm, Australia). Leah makes sense of her world through collection, retranslation, and emotional mapping, practicing primarily through painting, drawing, and printmaking. Her practice is underpinned by poetics of introspection and softness.
Leah holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts from Monash University. She now professionally and voluntarily engages with public art galleries and artist-run collectives within administrative, visitor services, audience engagement and programming capacities. She is a current Creative Producer supporting Connection Art Spaces’ Artist-In-Residence program, and remains passionate about art, community, and third spaces that support these to thrive.
Creative Producer
(she/her)
Leah Shyra is an early career visual artist and arts worker, born in Hyderabad (India) and now living/practicing on unceded land (Naarm, Australia). Leah makes sense of her world through collection, retranslation, and emotional mapping, practicing primarily through painting, drawing, and printmaking. Her practice is underpinned by poetics of introspection and softness.
Leah holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts from Monash University. She now professionally and voluntarily engages with public art galleries and artist-run collectives within administrative, visitor services, audience engagement and programming capacities. She is a current Creative Producer supporting Connection Art Spaces’ Artist-In-Residence program, and remains passionate about art, community, and third spaces that support these to thrive.
Paige Templeton
Queer AIR Lead
(She/Her)
Paige is a multidisciplinary artist and arts worker living and creating in Naarm/Melbourne on the unceded lands of the Kulin Nation.
Paige is the co-founder of artist duo, 2 Halves as A Whole. Alongside collaborator Ali Bagnato, the duo’s body-of-work spans across painting, digital media, assemblage, soft sculpture, performance, and installation. Their work explores themes of consumerism, commodification, and aestheticisation, often engaging playfully with internet ephemera and early-2000s visual culture.
Currently, Paige is a facilitator and Artist-in-Residence at Yarra Youth Services, and Creative Producer of the Connection Art Space Queer Artist-in-Residence program. She is looking forward to working alongside artists and building space for them to experiment, connect, and develop their creative practice.
Raks
Queer AIR Support
Raks is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice draws from Indian miniatures and Hindu temple architecture. Working across acrylic and oil painting, hand poke tattooing, sculpture, and written word. Raks weaves together story and dream, as a way to rekindle precolonial cultural narratives. Their work is a process of reconnection that honours heritage, spirit, and the emotional landscapes we carry.
Queer AIR Support
Raks is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice draws from Indian miniatures and Hindu temple architecture. Working across acrylic and oil painting, hand poke tattooing, sculpture, and written word. Raks weaves together story and dream, as a way to rekindle precolonial cultural narratives. Their work is a process of reconnection that honours heritage, spirit, and the emotional landscapes we carry.
Joshua Yong
Queer AIR Support
Joshua is a young emerging artist from Melbourne who is exploring the medium of digital art. He experiments with various brushes on the app Procreate to create semi-realistic, identical-like drawings of faces. His work predominantly focuses on drawing and painting and is influenced by his love and obsession with the face and portraiture.
Joshua Yong’s work also explores the art form of drag performance, transforming himself into his drag persona, Kitana Li. He is hugely interested in makeup and its power to alter human identity, expression, and aesthetic. His persona aims to connect his historical roots as an Australian born Chinese, with performance to different kinds of music and links to Asian culture.
Joshua studied and completed Visual Arts and Design at Australian Catholic University. He is passionate about visitor experience, customer service, and artist-run, collaborative initiatives. Joshua is particularly interested in the operational side of galleries and arts-based organisations.
Sam Kariotis
Programs Co-ordinator
(He/They)
I'm a sculpture and collage artist from Naarm/Melbourne with over 5 years experience as a practicing artist, with a love of niche folklore, religion and theatrics. My work is heavily inspired by my 13 years growing up in a private Catholic all girls school, as well as my fixation on various forms of Paganism and Catholicism.
I've got a BA Fine Art under my belt, and am also currently studying my graduate diploma of arts and cultural management. I've been a curator and program manager for just over 3 years, and I love bringing artists together to create interesting conversations through their works, and I have a deep love for accessibility and sustainability through local art initiatives. CAS is such an important space to me and I can't wait to co-ordinate more great exhibitions!
Programs Co-ordinator
(He/They)
I'm a sculpture and collage artist from Naarm/Melbourne with over 5 years experience as a practicing artist, with a love of niche folklore, religion and theatrics. My work is heavily inspired by my 13 years growing up in a private Catholic all girls school, as well as my fixation on various forms of Paganism and Catholicism.
I've got a BA Fine Art under my belt, and am also currently studying my graduate diploma of arts and cultural management. I've been a curator and program manager for just over 3 years, and I love bringing artists together to create interesting conversations through their works, and I have a deep love for accessibility and sustainability through local art initiatives. CAS is such an important space to me and I can't wait to co-ordinate more great exhibitions!
Keelan Lang
Finance Co-ordinator
(He/Him)
Kia ora, I’m a Finance Coordinator with a fresh Certificate IV in accounting and bookkeeping. I’m all about making the numbers add up while keeping things chill and easy for the team. People say I’m approachable, reliable, and not afraid to have a laugh while getting the mahi (work) done.
I like to think I have good communication, a bit of common sense, and mean as Excel skills. I’m a big fan of supporting the arts and the community, and always keen to learn more along the way!
Previous Committee Members:
2024 - Present Sam Kariotis, Andrew Duong, Nyalat Pel Kun, Marcel Renardi, Fathiah Raihan, Aisha Farotan, Keelan Lang
2021 - 2023 Kyla Sun, Ivan Wong, Larra Juab, Jessica Tanto, Sam Kariotis, Andrew Duong, Nyalat Pel Kun, Paulina Zamorano, Marcel Renardi, Justine Moguis
2020 - 2021 Andrew Duong, Gen Townsend, Larra Juab, Justine Moguis
2019 - 2020 Andrew Duong, Natalie Artis (Co-founder), Ciara Lynch (Co-founder), Ainslie Peverell, Gen Townsend, Daniel Kerrison, Vicki Jacgung, Tash Brennfleck
2017 - 2018
Andrew Duong, Tahlia Megele, Daniel Kerrison, Mohamed Chamas, Aysha Tea, Isabelle Nguyen, Harveer Dhaliwal
2015 - 2016
Co-Founders: Mehdi Jaghhuri, Andrew Duong, Gen Townsend, Michelle Clarke, Tahlia Megele, Daniel Kerrison, Mohamed Chamas. With thanks to Business Development mentor, Sophia Kostava.