Sharing her local area – and the plethora of artists within – is an act of joy for Violet. She is also an expert in the elements that ensure a more than memorable experience: a natural for hunting down the unusual and interesting, honed over 27 years in tourism; an affinity with the local area she is working in; a knack for developing relationships both with participants and the people they visit and a savvy business acumen that always ensures value for money.
After moving from Yarraville to St Kilda, Violet quickly became ensconced in her new community. In 2018, her love of art was re-ignited through working with a local Indigenous artist as his Business Manager in his St Kilda gallery in Acland Street. It was after this stint and getting involved with the St Kilda Arts Community Association (of which she is now the Vice President), that Violet decided she wanted to make a contribution in supporting local artists.
Violet has a bubbly and vivacious personality and her drive, enthusiasm and passion is palpable to everyone she meets. She is totally committed to whatever she decides to take on, is very community-conscious and possesses a genuine desire to help others.
Violet has a surfie teenage son and a dog, Cody, who both love their home in St Kilda and its constant humming and vibrant environment. Violet loves living across from the Botanical Gardens and rides her bike and walks everywhere in St Kilda’s easy to navigate bike paths.
Violet can’t wait to share this passion with you and is looking forward to the journey in promoting art and artists in St Kilda.
Art is an emotive purchase and we all love to buy art from the artist themselves.
Recognising that people connect more with art when they hear the stories behind it, Violet could see that the there was an opportunity to better promote the plethora of unique artists in the St Kilda area while expressing her passion for art of all types and persuasions.. Violet set about talking to artists and galleries and St Kilda Art Tours was formed.
The inaugural St Kilda Art tour coincided with the St Kilda Arts Alive weekend, run by the local St Kilda Arts Community. Violet and her tour participants are particularly impressed with the diversity of art forms on the itinerary and this forms a major highlight of the tours.
With two tours running across two precincts, Violet is adding a Wine and Art tour to the mix which so far is proving to be very popular for those looking for the addition of fun to the Art Tour.
With a broad background of 27 years in tourism and hospitality and a strong desire to go back to her tourism roots, Violet started St Kilda Art Tours in September 2018 – curated walking tours of galleries and studios in St Kilda – many of which are unknown to local residents or are tucked away, hidden from view.
Violet’s hospitality and tourism background includes working for Hyatt International representing 10 properties nationally to the conference and events market; Hayman Island during and after its re-development and was Group Sales and Marketing Manager for a chain of hotels, motels and apartments in Sydney. She also started a travel club for Contiki, worked for two airlines plus a number of roles in adventure travel earlier in her tourism career.
With the addition of Public Relations skills achieved over the last 10 years, she is well equipped to take on this new challenge and bring St Kilda Art Tours to a successful fruition.
