Alfred Deakin Place is an important cultural site and meeting place for protests and rallies. The work Open Every Door draws on the history of the site, Alfred Deakin’s Spiritualism, as well as queer histories in Ballarat, playfully bringing together different threads and stories.

Open Every Door consists of two wall paintings (each with a 6-month life-span) and a website publication. Each abstract wall painting references queer histories and art makers, as well as abstract drawings made by Deakin’s Spiritualist contemporaries, such as Georgiana Haughton (1814-1884). The painted works will be completed with various size brushstrokes, in keeping with their hand-drawn design process.

Out of the darkness: A survivor’s journey is an exhibition of works collected, commissioned and curated by Robert House, a survivor of child sexual abuse. The memories of House’s childhood experiences have continued to haunt him and affect his mental wellbeing, but he has employed determination and resilience to become an advocate for survivors, and work towards a more just society.