33 Laurel Street, North Willoughby
The North Shore Workshop Arts Centre was officially opened on 16 August 1963 by Hal Missingham, Director of the Art Gallery of NSW in a leased building (formerly a furrier factory belonging to J.E. Gillis). The centre evolved from the Joy Ewart Studio in Chatswood which gave art classes in all aspects of the visual arts. When evicted from her derelict premises in 1961 she held a meeting with fellow artists, students and parents and formed a committee to raise money, find premises and run the programmes for a non-profit arts centre. When the lease ran out after 12 months, members raised funds to buy the factory. Joy Ewart died in July 1964. In 1965 the words North Shore were deleted from the title.