Participatory Arts Lab: Artist development workshops

We're inviting expressions of interest from visual artists, performers and musicians to take part in Participatory Arts Lab, a series of 5 free artist development workshops!

Participants will explore new approaches to creating engaging, community-led creative experiences.

Across five workshops, they will learn from leading practitioners and collaborate with peers.

The program culminates in the development of a project proposal that expands creative practice through community participation.

Participants will present their proposal in the final workshop.

Who should apply

This opportunity is for creative practitioners over 18 years of age, including:

• visual artists
• performers
• Musicians
• artists interested in inviting community participation
• artists wanting to expand their work beyond traditional formats.

What you’ll gain

• Practical tools for designing participatory arts experiences.
• Insights from experienced community-engaged artists.
• New approaches to activating public and outdoor spaces.
• Opportunities to collaborate with other practitioners.
• Mentorship and professional feedback.
• A developed project concept or proposal.
• New professional connections across the creative sector.

Take part in Participatory Arts Lab

EOIs closed on 30 August 2026. Successful applicants will be notified by 4 September 2026.

Learn from leading practitioners

Featuring:

• Sarah Winter
• Sue Loveday
• Emma Che Raethke
• Kate Baggerson
• Art for Earthlings

Creative workshop series overview

Session 1

When: Friday 9 October 2026, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM

• Meet fellow participants.
• Explore the program and The Wonder Wagon.
• Hear from guest presenter Sarah Winter.
• Consider why and how you invite community participation into your work.

Session 2

When: Saturday 10 October 2026, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

• Explore activation design principles.
• Learn approaches to community creative participation from Sue Loveday and Emma Che Raethke.

Session 3

When: Saturday 24 October 2026, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

• Learn approaches to devising participatory performances and creative experiences.
• Hear from Kate Baggerson (Everybody NOW) and Art for Earthlings.

Session 4

When: Saturday 7 November 2026, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM

• Develop and refine your project concept.
• Explore and test ideas.
• Receive mentoring and feedback from Sue Loveday and Kate Baggerson.

Session 5

When: Saturday, 21 November 2026, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM

• Present your project proposal.
• Share ideas and insights developed through the workshops.
• Showcase your work to industry guests.

About the facilitators

Sarah Winter

Based in City of Moreton Bay, Sarah Winter is a designer, installation artist and maker. She has designed for local, national and international audiences, creating immersive spaces. She also creates site designs and sets for theatre, festivals and community placemaking. She has worked with:

• Punchdrunk Enrichment
• Imaginary Theatre
• Counterpilot
• La Boite Theatre
• Brisbane Festival
• The Stitchery Collective.

Sue Loveday

Sue Loveday is an illustrator and visual art facilitator. She is dedicated to creative play and community collaboration. With broad experience in community arts practice, Sue creates interactive spaces for arts engagement. She involves a diverse range of people in creative projects. Over a long career, Sue has made work and creative experiences for:

• the Brisbane Museum
• the State Library of Queensland
• Brisbane City Council
• the Gold Coast Bleach Festival
• Out of the Box.

Emma Che Raethke

Based in City of Moreton Bay, Emma Che Raethke is a performance-maker and creative producer. Emma is experienced in working outside of a traditional theatre setting, and in creating work with young people and older adults from diverse and marginalised community groups. In her live performance work, Emma is interested in participation that brings people together. Recent projects include Back-Stitch, Walkie Talkies in Our Neighbourhood, and The Seamstresses.

Kate Baggerson

Kate Baggerson is the Co-Artistic Director and Executive Director of Everybody NOW. She is an experienced creative producer and maker of large-scale community-engaged performance works. Kate has managed many complex and layered community cultural development projects and multi-art events over the last 15 years. She has worked across Australia for leading arts organisations such as:

• MONA FOMA
• Salamanca Arts Centre
• the Woodford Folk Festival
• HOTA Home of the Arts
• Gold Coast’s Bleach Festival.

Art for Earthlings

Art for Earthlings creates fun and accessible theatre, installations, workshops and roving characters from 100% sustainably sourced materials. Their mission is to inspire families to protect the planet. They have a strong focus on highly inclusive and accessible experiences for children of all abilities. Their award-winning work has toured throughout Australia.

Dates and locations