Light shines on modest hero

By Kath Gannaway
HEALESVILLE artist Ali Griffin doesn’t see herself as a hero, but she is thrilled to be included in the Small Business Heroes Exhibition in Melbourne.
Ms Griffin who has established and runs Three Stories Artspace in Healesville is one of 18 Victorian design-based business owners featured in the exhibition which opens in Federation Square on Friday, 6 August, as part of the State Government’s Energise Enterprise festival.
Small Business Minister Joe Helper said a highlight of this year’s festival was the Small Business Heroes Exhibition. Themed ‘The Designers’, the 2010 exhibition will feature candid images of successful small business operators, selected this year as ‘design heroes’.
Ms Griffin has worked on both sides of the design world.
In 2004 she moved with her family to Yarra Glen, away from the busy world of multinational advertising agencies and running her own design business and ultimately a very different lifestyle.
Her love of design came full circle when she opened an ‘art space’ where graphic design could sit alongside contemporary art. Three Stories Artspace in Healesville is now an art gallery that sells locally designed, environmentally conscious products and runs workshops designed to inspire and involve.
“I wanted to design a place where I could encourage people to follow their passions. And use my advertising and graphic design skills to communicate that this space is here for them. Three Stories is basically now my own client,” she says.
After the family home was destroyed in the Black Saturday bushfires, Three Stories Artspace became even more important, both as a physical place to live and a venue for Ms Griffin’s artistic expression.
“We feel even more a part of our community, now, and that is very fulfilling. I can be involved in helping people to find what it is they truly love, and give them the tools to make it a reality,” she said.
Energise Enterprise is Australia’s largest small business festival and features more than 400 events throughout August, providing ideas and information to help start or build a business,” Mr Helper said.
“Our ‘design heroes’ represent a broad range of industries and feature many hard-working small business people changing the face of Victoria.
“On display will be innovative and creative design-based business success stories from the fashion, advertising, art and manufacturing sectors.”
Mr Helper said the businesses selected to be part of this year’s Small Business Heroes Exhibition were great local stories and served as positive small business role models. The Small Business Heroes Exhibition – ‘The Designers’ is on from 6 to 14 August at The Atrium in Federation Square.