Invitation to collaborate

Expressions of interest now open to Sunshine Coast artists and creatives

Reflections: A collaborative exploration of our relationships with the natural environment

Are you a local Sunshine Coast artist or creative with a deep love for the natural world? And are you interested in connecting and collaborating with others on an immersive program and group exhibition? If so, I would love to hear from you!

‘Reflections’ is a collaborative project that brings together Sunshine Coast artists and creatives who are keen to connect and explore our relationships with our local natural environment through creative expression, woven narratives and shared wisdom.

This project is an opportunity to meet (and potentially work with) other creatives in the community, explore diverse perspectives, and push boundaries with your creative practices in meaningful ways.

The project will start with a private half-day retreat gathering where participating artists and creatives will hear from a range of guest speakers about the historic, current and projected environmental challenges and changes across the Sunshine Coast, as well as the positive initiatives working to look after and protect this place. Participants will also explore their own personal relationships with these themes and will have space to connect, learn from each other, and share ideas about what a group exhibition and public engagement program at the end of the year might look like. 

Participating artists and creatives will then go on to create their own works or work with others on collaborative artworks or projects that will reflect the themes explored during the retreat. These works and projects will form the public exhibition and engagement program that will take place at the Arts and Ecology Centre at the Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden in November. 

Those participating are welcome to contribute in a range of ways from simply creating a piece of work that will be part of the group exhibition at the end of the year sparking thought and curiosity with the audience, to running an immersive community activity that the public can participate in related to the exhibition theme. 

The project will be a fun and meaningful way to work together, and use creative expression to invite broader inquiry into the ways in which we relate to and care for the natural world around us.

The project in more detail

The project will be delivered in two main stages:

Half-Day Artist Retreat 

A private gathering for participating artists and creatives will be held at the beautiful Arts and Ecology Centre, Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden, Tanawha. 

The retreat will bring together a range of guest speakers who will share knowledge from a diversity of perspectives about the historic, current and projected environmental changes the Sunshine Coast faces and is likely to face in the future. Hear from local environmentalists, First Nations peoples, researchers, and community leaders.

The retreat will focus on sharing knowledge and stories, and developing ideas for a group exhibition and public engagement program in November.

The gathering will be a fun and casual way to connect and meet new people, expand your network of lovely humans, and to be inspired.

When: Friday June 6, 2025

Time: 9:30 am to 2:30 pm 

Coffee catch-ups will be organised to stay connected and confirm final details in the leadup to the exhibition. These catch-ups will be confirmed after the retreat working with people’s availability.

Group Exhibition & Community Engagement Program

Running from November 1 - 16, 2025, at the Arts and Ecology Centre, Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden, Tanawha, a group exhibition will feature works inspired by the retreat that explore the artists' responses to environmental change, and our relationships with the natural world. 

The exhibition will also include an immersive public engagement program which may include a range of activities from storytelling to knowledge and skills-sharing events to art workshops in nature (but certainly not limited to). These will be designed as part of the retreat and in the months leading up to the exhibition. These activities will act as an extension of the exhibition and an opportunity for the community to learn and connect in diverse ways. These will also be hosted at the Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden.

How involved you are in this part of the project is completely up to you. There is no pressure to create anything beyond a piece of work for the exhibition. But if you have other gifts and talents you would like to offer, there will be opportunity to weave these into the exhibition program.

Interested in knowing more? Here’s some questions answered…

(Let me know if you have more!)

  • EOIs are open to artists and creatives currently living across (or with deep connections to) the Sunshine Coast region (QLD), across Jinibara and Kabi Kabi/Gubbi Gubbi Country.

    People from diverse arts/creative practices, backgrounds, abilities, and levels of career experience (from emerging to professional artists) are most welcome to apply.

    If you have special needs, simply pop these in the EIO so I can work with you to best meet these to enable your participation.

  • If you are interested in participating, you are invited to submit a brief expression of interest so that I can get to know you a little better.

    The outcome of your EOI will be confirmed by May 6, 2025.

  • April 3, 2025: EOIs Open

    May 4, 2025: EOIs Close (midnight)

    May 6, 2025: Applicants notified

    Friday June 6, 2025: Artist Retreat 9.30am - 2.30pm, Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden, Arts and Ecology Centre

    Saturday November 1, 2025: Exhibition Open 3pm, Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden, Arts and Ecology Centre

    Exhibition duration: November 1 - November 16, 2025

    Post retreat catch up dates along with the exhibition bump in and out dates will be confirmed post-retreat.

  • Anyone 16 years and over is invited to participate. If there are younger artists very keen to be included, please get in touch and we can discuss further (my contact details are at the bottom).

  • Participation in the retreat and exhibition is completely free, and there will be opportunities for all participating creatives to sell their work and generate an income from the ways they contribute to the project should they choose to (for example if you end up running a workshop, and this is a ticketed event, profits will go back to you).

    There will be no commission charged on artwork sales. The sale of artworks go directly back to the artist.

    Donations may be invited to contribute to some of the exhibition costs, but to keep this project as accessible as possible, these will be completely voluntary.

    Expected exchange

    For you to participate in this project the following commitment is requested of you:

    • Participation in the artist retreat on June 6 so that you get to meet other wonderful creatives and contribute your ideas

    • Attendance at the Exhibition Opening November 1, so that the community can meet you and hear more about your work

    • Any other additional contributions you put forward and agree to during and/or after the retreat

  • Nope. Just bring your wonderful self, along with a willingness to listen, connect and share ideas :)

  • If you really feel called to be involved, and any of the above is an issue for you, please be in touch and we can work through this together :)

  • The following types of work will be appropriate for the exhibition space:

    • 2D

    • 3D

    • Small projections/digital installations that include sound 

    Dimensions and size restrictions will be defined and shared during the retreat.

  • This component will be designed during and post-retreat to ensure that the program aligns with the exhibition theme. Bring your ideas! 

    Please note that anyone wishing to deliver a workshop will need to have all appropriate insurances. We will discuss this during the retreat. 

  • This project is something that I (Megan) have wanted to bring to the community for a number of years. I have a passion for collaboration and weaving narratives and practices to create meaningful experiences for the community to participate in. Particularly when it comes to caring for the environment. 

    I am an experienced facilitator, and have a background in environmental science and conservation (17 years), and for many years ran community engagement, and personal and professional leadership development programs for youth and young adults.

    Holding space for meaningful dialogue and collaborations to take place is something I really enjoy doing. 

    I am also a practicing artist here on the Sunshine Coast.

    I know many artists who are passionate about the environment and keen to learn more about how they can contribute in positive ways. 

    I’ve noticed that it is rare in this fast-paced world we all live in, that we have the opportunity to actually sit, listen deeply, hear from others and then collectively explore important themes together from our own perspectives. These conversations are usually limited, happening on the fly, during a break at an event, or just as an exhibition or talk is wrapping up and you’re walking out the door. 

    I wanted to create a loving and welcoming space for us to have some time to dive a little deeper, and for this to be the basis that we can create from.

    I am bringing this project to the community as an in-kind offering. My hope is that together we can create something really engaging and meaningful that stimulates deep thought, discussion and participation by the broader community, and supports people to be just that little bit more intentional in the ways they/we all relate to and care for this place.

  • The use of the Arts and Ecology Centre at the Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Garden, was approved through an expression of interest process which grants us the use of the space for the artist retreat and exhibition at the end of the year.

    The use of the space is being supported by the Environmental Visitor Centres, Sunshine Coast Council.

    The artist retreat is being self-funded, costs associated with speakers will be covered by Megan. Some speakers have generously offered to contribute their time in-kind because they are supportive of the project and their organisations have the means to support this. 

    If bigger and bolder ideas come of the group discussion during the retreat, we may choose to seek further funding or sponsorship/investment, but we will flow with this on a needs basis :)

Interested in applying?

If you have further questions about this project, or you would like to connect, please be in touch via email

megan@wilderessdesigns.com.au