Prep students at Albany Hills State School placed first in the P–3 Collaborative Art Prize at the 2026 Moreton Bay Youth Art Awards. Their joint work, Our Patchwork Neighbourhood, combines individual drawings from every Prep class into one colourful collage. The piece was displayed at last month's exhibition, where judges praised it and gave it the award. The school also received $1,000 to spend on art workshops. Sue Gollan was credited for her part in helping realise the students' ideas.
The Logan Arts Festival will be held in Hillcrest on Saturday 31 October, bringing together local artists, musicians and families. Organiser Access Logan Inc hopes the event will reduce social isolation and support mental wellbeing. Activities include an art exhibition, handmade crafts, artisan market stalls, children's painting and a games room. Visitors are encouraged to attend in costume for a competition with prizes. The festival runs from 10am to 6pm at Corporate Place, with a gold coin donation for entry.
Author Sophie Green has published her eighth novel, The Frock Shop, which is set in Mosman, where she grew up and now lives again. Green works full-time as a publisher and is finishing another book due out early next year. She also runs Sunburnt Country Music, a platform that interviews country music artists and won her a 2024 media award. Green says she writes on the ferry and late at night, and encourages people to find the form of expression that makes them feel free.
AU Now app
Your suburb’s news, alerts and Shorts — in one app
Alerts, Shorts and your saved stories — free on Google Play.
Canberra's Craft + Design Festival will run from 5 to 15 November under the theme Dissent. More than 130 events featuring over 500 creatives will cover art, architecture, fashion and performance, and many are free. Highlights include the Canberra Kinetic Sculpture Race on Lake Burley Griffin and Canberra Open Homes tours. Festival CEO and artistic director Jodie Cunningham said the theme is about questioning accepted ways of doing things and imagining something better. The free opening celebration is on 5 November in Civic Square.
Geelong has opened a new design hub called Design Commons at 30 Gheringhap Street. The space, part of the historic Geelong Town Hall, will host exhibitions, events, and professional development. Mayor Stretch Kontelj announced a 12-month residency program with stipends for emerging designers. The Victorian government supports the hub through Creative Victoria’s program. Member for Geelong Christine Couzens highlighted its role in fostering creativity and economic growth.
Artists say Etsy is being overrun with AI-generated products, including copies of their work. Hobart-based crochet designer Lucy Cooper discovered an AI version of her spiral beanie pattern on the platform. Etsy's vice-president of customer operations says the company is working to remove listings that don't meet its human creativity standards. A law professor says artists need more clarity on their ownership rights in the AI age.
Young Australian artists face tough choices between pursuing creative careers and opting for more stable paths. A Brisbane musician weighs family safety against chasing a career in Vienna, while a talented dancer fears ending up as a dance teacher. An actor struggles with the financial instability of his profession. Many young creatives abandon their dreams due to stress and uncertainty, though some persist despite the challenges. Author Leonard Cavallaro encourages appreciation for their determination.
