Creative Victoria

CREATIVE OPP: Applications for the Australian Parliament House Artist-in-Residence are now open. The residency is open to visual artists working in Australia at any stage of their career who are Australian citizens.

The successful applicant will receive an artist fee of $10,000, an additional commission fee for new work of up to $30,000, and financial assistance for travel and accommodation in Canberra.

📅Applications close 16 June 2026.
More information about the application process can be found here: https://www.aph.gov.au/Visit_Parliament/Art/Parliament_House_Artist-in-Residence

Image supplied.

Congratulations to Joanne Odisho, a Melbourne furniture designer with a twist. She collects thousands of discarded eggshells from local cafes, then sterilises, dries, and processes them in a Nutribullet to create a material for her stunning Mod-u lamps.

These configurable, Jenga-inspired lighting pieces recently earned her the prestigious Australian Furniture Design Award, one of the richest design accolades in the country.

Read more about her process: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2026/may/29/australian-furniture-design-award-winner-lamp-made-of-eggshells-joanne-odisho

📷 Joanne Odisho, courtesy The Guardian.

📷 We love this shot!

From CHUNKY MOVE's milestone work 'Glow' which returns in a rare revival, twenty years after its pioneering fusion of dance and interactive technology first premiered. 'Glow' is part of the inaugural Australian Dance Biennale, now part of RISING's program.

Showcasing the work of 376 artists, the Rising Festival features more than 100 creative events including art exhibitions and installations, performances and live music as well as immersive creative experiences.

RISING runs until 8 June 2026.
Find more program highlights at: https://creative.vic.gov.au/news/2026/rising-returns-to-warm-up-melbourne/

ACMI latest exhibition explores vinyl culture and music’s influence on art, film and social movements.

ACMI and Rising Bring Together Music, Art and Film in a New Multisensory Vinyl Exhibition From Kingston dancehall and ’80s acid house to Daft Punk, Grace Jones and Massive Attack, this interactive exhibition is an invitation for music lovers and other curious minds.

Nominations are now open for the 2026 Victorian Multicultural Awards for
Excellence.

Know someone who has made an outstanding contribution to Victoria’s
multicultural communities? Nominate them today!

There are 13 award categories spanning arts, business, sport, youth leadership
and more.

Nominations close Monday 13 July 2026

Find out more and nominate:
https://www.multiculturalcommission.vic.gov.au/victorian-multicultural-awards-for-excellence…

OPPORTUNITY: Global Art Projects (GAP), on behalf of the Department of Transport and Planning, is now accepting Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the Transporting Arts Program from Victorian artists.

Initially there will be eight opportunities for artworks at tram stops and train stations that reflect the rich culture and heritage of the local areas. The EOIs collected will be used to develop an artist pool to shortlist artists for these initial projects, as well as identifying artists for future Transporting Art opportunities.

📅 Closes Monday, 8 June 2026.
https://www.gap.net.au/items-1/dtp---statewide-eoi-transporting-art

For the 10th edition of Melbourne Design Week, there are over 100 chairs by a bunch of different designers on display.

Each chair had to meet two simple rules:
✔️Australian made
✔️ and be comfy enough to sit on.

Test them out yourself until 24 May.
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2026/may/21/australian-designers-chairs-in-pictures

📷 Photograph: Emily Poole/Foolscap and Alpha60

📍 Nominations are now open for the 2026 Victorian Disability Awards.

Do you know a person, group or organisation:

✔️makes everyday activities easier and more accessible for everyone

✔️stands up for the rights of people with disability

✔️builds more inclusive workplaces and communities

✔️promotes and celebrates diversity.

We want to recognise champions of disability rights and inclusion across Victoria.

Find out more or nominate at https://www.dffh.vic.gov.au/victorian-disability-awards

Shout out to The Torch for selling 174 artworks during the first week of their latest exhibition, with 100% of the artwork price going directly to First Peoples artists.

The Torch’s flagship exhibition ‘Confined 17’ is now showing at Glen Eira City Council Gallery until 14 June 2026. Featuring the work of 424 First Peoples artists with lived experience of incarceration in Victoria, this powerful exhibition is not to be missed.

The exhibition is open daily and all artworks are available to purchase.

With two weeks to go until begins, explore the final wave of programming taking place across Melbourne this winter.

From large-scale public art and artist-led nightlife to free talks and public programs, these additions extend Rising into the city’s squares, bars and restaurants creating more opportunities for people to gather before, between and after the show, while supporting artists and the local economy.

begins in 2 weeks. View the full program at www.2026.rising.melbourne