WHY ARE YOU HERE?
Three Ballarat-based artists working together on a new and exciting community art project ‘Why Are You Here?’ A project affiliated with Ballarat Craft & Design Week 2026 ‘Bound’. This is a question which can be pointed or gentle, welcoming or accusing - because most of us are here from somewhere else.
Join Robyn Barnett, a textile artist with a lifelong commitment to arts education, Sylvia Aguirre, a multidisciplinary artist and educator and Diana Paez, filmmaker and visual artist to create something greater than the sum of its parts.
The ‘Why are you here?’ project is informed by the local Ballarat community in response to the theme of connection and belonging. What holds us here in Ballarat, and what connects us to this community?
The three artists are creating a large-scale installation weaving together responses through film, sound, photography, and textiles, community participation being at the heart of the work. The final installation will be exhibited at the Unicorn Collection in May 2026, during Ballarat Craft & Design Week.
WORKSHOPS
Wednesday 4th Feb 10am- 12noon
Cocomoe Studio 79 Ross Creek-Haddon Rd, Ross Creek, 3351
Thursday 19th Feb 2pm - 4pm
Vickers Street Community Hub 254 Vickers St, Sebastopol- Art Room
Tuesday 3rd March 7pm- 9pm
Lucas Community Hub 17 Coltman Plaza, Lucas, 3350
Submit your response
Your creative response needs to be:
No bigger than A4 and preferably 2D. These can be paintings, drawings, printing, textiles, collage. Or you might choose to submit a written response in poetry or prose of 20 words or fewer. Or you also may wish to supply photographs, or digital images.
If you choose to participate, please be aware works will not be returned and may not necessarily be used in the final piece. So make sure you send a copy!
Creative community response drop-off points:
Vickers St Community Hub: 254 Vickers St, Sebastopol
Lucas Community Hub: 17 Coltman Plaza, Lucas
Our Kitchen Social Cafe @ Barkly Square: 25 Barkly St, Ballarat East
Wendouree Library: Stockland Wendouree Shopping Centre
Ballarat Library: 178 Doveton St N, Ballarat
Sebastopol Library: 181 Albert St, Sebastopol
Submissions due by 31 March
Alternatively you can drop off your works to The Unicorn Collection between 1st April till 8th April
