Dennis Blanch


22nd June 2022

Mr GREG PIPER (Lake Macquarie)—I'd like to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of Dennis Blanch from Rathmines in fostering the growth of the visual arts scene in Lake Macquarie. Last year, while we were living with the challenges of the COVID-19 health pandemic and the closure of many businesses and community facilities, 76-year-old Dennis decided to open his home to create a local artists' collective. Dennis devoted countless hours transforming his home into a workspace and studio where both emerging and established artists could meet free of charge and where he could help them create wonderful works of art. One of Dennis's great joys in life is to mentor young artists, especially in the emerging field of mixed media involving digital art and traditional art forms. His students hold Dennis in high esteem for his ongoing dedication to keeping Lake Macquarie's art scene alive in the community, especially during such a challenging time. These efforts recently saw Dennis named as a finalist for the 2022 Lake Mac Arts Leader Award in recognition of his outstanding demonstration of leadership skills and contribution to the arts. I congratulate and thank Dennis for his contribution to the local community.


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