Creative Dialogues: Conversations on Creativity, Ecology and the Future
When:
20 June 2026
12:00 pm - 07:00 pm
Engage in meaningful conversations, exchange perspectives, and imagine new possibilities at this FREE event for creative practitioners.
Creative Dialogues in The Music Lounge with MCs Adriana Māhanga Lear and Anastasia Murney
Download the program as a pdf.
| 12pm - 12.50pm | Local Artists: Working at the nexus of creativity and ecology Bianca Hester, Freya Garbett, Lizzie Buckmaster Dove, The Green Room |
| 1.15pm - 1.35pm | Creative Climate: Mobilising through culture and the arts Angharad Wynne-Jones (Creative Climate.org) |
| 2pm - 2.30pm | On Country: Living Knowledge In conversation with Stephanie Beaupark, Nicole Smede & Lizzie Buckmaster Dove |
| 2.30pm - 2.45pm | Creative Wollongong Short Film Festival Favourites Exotic Birds of the Illawarra and Birdwatcher |
| 3pm - 4.15pm | Emergent Futures Nicole Smede: Plants & music April Phillips: Futurism, media arts |
| 4.30pm - 5pm | VOICES Walking Tour Join Joren Dawson (Creative Director - Pulsing Heart) to hear more about this interactive installation in the Wollongong CBD. Tour starts at the Town Hall fountain at 4.30pm. |
| 5pm - 6.15pm | FEATURE PANEL: Threading the Future: Ecology, the Arts & Science Local artists and experts explore how art, science, and ecology connect to shape a better future. With Professor Tim Flannery, April Phillips, Angharad Wynne-Jones, Bianca Hester and Stephanie Beaupark |
| 6.15pm - 7pm | Performance by Freyja Garbett Trio Drawing on a unique research project that turns wave motion into music, Garbett is joined by Max Alduca and Miles Thomas. |
Drop-in activations | Wollongong Town Hall (12pm - 5pm)
- Explore The Green Room at Wollongong Creative Studios, a temporary residency created by local artists, designers and ecological activists.
- Wollongong Botanic Garden collaborative Nature Mural at Wollongong Creative Studios
- Play & Pause: Breathing Spaces, mindful making with artist Michelle Heldon.
- Native Bee Drop-in: Learn about the curious lives of bees with Educator Alison Mellor.
- Typewriter Poet: Live, bespoke nature poems with Adara Enthaler
- Nature in a Box: Playful comedian Ali Gordon is Nature’s Secretary
- Meet Artist & Author Lizzie Buckmaster Dove: Walking with Moon
- LOOK to SEE: Digital Artwork by April Phillip
- The Picket Fence Project: Dr Virginia Keft's First Nations community arts project created across Dharawal and Yuin Country
Walking Distance | What's happening in the Wollongong CBD
- Monoprinting with Nature with Danielle Creenaune at Wollongong Art Gallery (bookings essential).
- 3D Programming with April Phillips at Wollongong Art Gallery (bookings essential).
- The Materiality of Print with Danielle Creenaune at Wollongong Art Gallery (bookings essential).
- VOICES in the Wollongong CBD Spin a tube to activate this light and sound sculpture featuring music by local Ekrem Eli Phoenix, created by Pulsing Heart. Lower Crown Street Mall, opposite the Wesley Church.
- Project Contemporary Art Space: Libby Bloxham celebrates 25 years of art practice. Featuring 28 life-size dogs made from recycled materials exploring our shared bond with animals.
Cover artwork by Tom Duffy