We acknowledge the land of the Gadigal People and pay our respects to elders past and present.

At The Village Works, our mission is to create thriving and connected communities through the transformative power of art, culture and education. Grounded in a community cultural development framework, we strive to foster well-being, and equity by producing innovative audio projects, dynamic workshop programs, and immersive live art events in collaboration with children and wider communities

By collaborating with artists and specialists in children's education, health and social justice, we aim to empower individuals, amplify diverse voices, and ignite positive change. It is the hope of The Village Works that we are able to (re)connect and (re)imagine the power of a village in our lives.

Meet The Village Artists

Our artists work across varied disciplines and are all currently working on a Village Works program.

  • Claudia Chidiac is a creative producer and arts worker. For twenty years, she has worked with diverse communities creating intimate and large scale experiences.

    Her recent works have centered children as co-designers of art projects such as Creation Station, an art resource made by children in 2020 from four primary schools in the 2168 postcode in partnership with the Children’s Parliament, Liverpool and The Village by The Kids, audio adventures co-curated and designed with children in partnership with primary schools.

    From 2010 - 2014 she was the Creative Producer of Performance and Music and Theatre Producer/Curator at Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre (CPAC) She was responsible for creating and producing the award-winning western Sydney Way Out West (WOW) Festival for Children (2011-2013 and 2017-2020). From 2005 – 2010 she was the Artistic Director and Executive Officer of youth theatre PYT Fairfield.

    In 2008 Claudia was one of the Australian delegates selected to participate in the inaugural Next Generation Symposium as part of the 16th ASSITEJ World Congress and Performing Arts Festival. In 2006, she was awarded the Australia Council for the Arts Community Cultural Development Young Leaders Award and in 2004, the Arts NSW Western Sydney Artist Fellowship. Claudia has a BA Theatre Theory and Practice, Western Sydney University.

    Claudia started The Village Works in 2023 as a means to connect children and families with art expereinces.

  • I am an interdisciplinary artist and musician with a focus on sound and interactivity. Over the past 25 years, my practice has revolved around writing, playing, and recording music for live theater and moving image. In addition to my work in music, I also delve into video production, coding, and embedded electronics 

    Recently, I have been deeply engaged in research and development, exploring the realm of individual wireless, MIDI-controlled instruments. These instruments utilise gyroscopes and accelerometers to translate human movement into sound and music. What sets them apart is their unique ability to also control DMX lighting, video, and virtual reality. 

    The Round Sounds are innovative touch-activated, MIDI motion controller that fits comfortably in the hands. By manipulating this device, performers can effortlessly create a wide range of intuitive compositions, sounds, and syncopated rhythms. Designed with physical performers in mind, the Round Sounds serve as the ideal bridge between musicians, dancers and jugglers.

    In 1995, as one of the founding members of the band Toydeath, I embarked on a journey of crafting distinctive electronic instruments using circuit bending techniques. Toydeath, which remains active to this day, has graced stages across Australia, including notable performances at the Sydney Biennale, Big Day Out, and The Great Escape Festival. Additionally, we have embarked on international tours throughout Europe, the USA, and Asia.

    I’ve continued to develop this element of my practice, adapting and re-purposing existing domestic technologies and intuitive physical interfaces to create new audio-visual devices for performances and multimedia installations. For example the use of embedded electronics, sensors, and programming to create interactive devices for the Bio-luminescent jellyfish in ERTH’s Prehistoric Aquarium.

    Overall, my work seamlessly merges various artistic disciplines, pushing the boundaries of sound, technology, and performance to create immersive experiences for audiences


  • Nitin Vengurlekar has performed his nonsensical poetry and microfiction at defunct staples of the Sydney alternative comedy circuit such as Griffin Up Late, Club Cab Sav, and Cardio Church Gala since the 2010s. His stage show ‘The Lonely Spirits Variety Hour (featuring Freddy Nietzsche's Good Time Bebop Quintet)’ following the bleary-eyed sermons and fever dreams of a late-night radio host, was adapted into a feature film in 2022. He has written for a number of large-scale community-based works including theatre shows 'The Prophet: Remix' and 'The Night Sky' at Bankstown Arts Centre and audio-tour 'The Village by The Kids' at North Bondi. In 2019 he completed a PhD in Theatre and Film Studies at UNSW that analysed the workings of the choreographic in the dance-theatre of Pina Bausch and the film comedies of Jacques Tati.  

  • I'm De'alah, an avant-garde artist with a unique focus on nurturing children's artistic talents. My expertise spans a wide array of mediums, including acrylic painting, clay sculpting, watercolor techniques, fluid pouring, oil pastels, and many more. My passion for art education is driven by a personal aspiration to touch the lives of countless individuals, enabling them to unleash their creativity and pursue their own passions.