Each morning, artist, animator, author and Convent tenant, Cat Rabbit, cycles along the Yarra Trail before arriving at her studio at the Abbotsford Convent, a place she has called home since 2022.
The journey helps clear her mind before she settles into a day that might involve sewing, animating, photographing or storyboarding. Cat hand stitches plush, sculptural works of her imagined characters and the worlds they might live in. Her work translates to many formats – from children’s books to large scale felt installations, as well as hosting intimate workshops in her Convent studio
“My favourite thing to do is sit here and sew and look out the window at the lovely trees,” she says.
That connection to the natural environment is an essential part of the creative process.
“The sense of calm at the Convent is a really important thing because you can come into this room and, no matter what has been happening outside or in the world, you can have your own little pocket of calm to sit and focus on your work,” she says. “That’s invaluable to me and to all the creatives here.”
The Abbotsford Convent is home to one of Australia’s largest creative communities, providing affordable studios and workspaces for artists, writers, performers, designers and makers. It is a place where creativity is nurtured through space, connection and a shared sense of purpose.
For Cat, the value of the Convent extends far beyond the walls of her studio.
“It’s nice to walk down the corridors, see friendly faces and have a chat,” she says. “It’s lovely to have a meeting at Cam’s and enjoy a coffee or a sandwich. It’s nice to meet up with other Convent tenants and walk around the gardens.”
“Last week we walked around looking at the dahlias and the sheep, who baaed at us very angrily,” she laughs.
On weekends, Cat often returns to meet friends and family.
“It’s a really lovely place to meet up, especially if people have kids. The kids can run around while we chat and catch up.”
Asked how she would describe the Convent to someone who has never visited, Cat pauses.
“It’s like a little calm oasis with a beautiful garden,” she says.
“Sometimes I look out the window and see people painting en plein air and a kid skipping along, and I think, ‘The world is fine.’”
As a not-for-profit social enterprise, the Abbotsford Convent relies on community support to sustain the studios, heritage buildings, gardens and shared spaces.
Your end-of-financial-year donation helps ensure the Convent is a place where creativity can flourish and the creative community can thrive for generations to come.