UNBOUND @ BENALLA 2026

From December, the Benalla Visitor Information Centre will host  UNBOUND 2026. The exhibition celebrates the creativity, diversity and contributions of artists with disability to the vibrant tapestry of the

broader north east Victorian region. 

The exhibition will feature works from UNBOUND 2026 Award submissions, and the Victorian Senior

Practitioner’s private collection: 15 years of award-winning works from the VALID Having a Say Conference Art Competition, highlighting the depth and richness of artistic talent across Victoria.

SUBMISSIONS 

UNBOUND will be calling for hanging art submissions from Benalla, Wangaratta and surrounding areas from artists with disability. More information will be provided in October 2026. Please register your interest by emailing unbound@shareddirection.com.au.

The exhibition is coordinated by Shared Direction Consulting, and supported by the Victorian Government, and Benalla Rural City Council through Benalla Art Gallery and the Benalla Visitor Information Centre.

For further information, artist and sponsorship enquiries, contact event organisers Tamara Reinisch and

Daniel Woods: unbound@shareddirection.com

UNBOUND Art Award 2026:  There will be prizes for two major awards and highly commended awards for hanging artwork submitted by artists with disability in Benalla, Wangaratta and surrounding region. The two major awards are:

1. UNBOUND 2026 Award

 2. UNBOUND Emerging Artists (25 years and under)

VALID Having a Say Conference: The first Having a Say (HaS) Conference was held in Maryborough in 2000. There were almost 190 people involved and it was so popular that the people involved decided to do it again the next year. Since then, the conference has grown with an average of 1000 people participating each year, until COVID came along. HaSconference has always been different. It is a conference for people with disability, not for service providers. People with disability have always helped plan and run the conference. 

Barbara Donovan & Sarah Guifoil Art Competition: The Art Competition has been named in memory of Barbara Donovan. Barbara was a Life Member of VALID and other Geelong organisations. She volunteered at the Having a Say conference for over 10 years and worked for people with disabilities over the last 50 years. Sadly, Barbara’s daughter Sarah Guilfoil passed away in May 2020.  Sarah has won the Art Competition several times. The HaS Art Competition is now named after both Barbara and Sarah. 

The Art Competition is proudly sponsored by the Victorian Senior Practitioner (Department of Families, Fairness & Housing). Under the Disability Act 2006 (Vic) the Victorian Senior Practitioner’s role is to protect people with disability and make sure staff and services provide good quality support. 

We would like to thank the following sponsors for their commitment and support in creating an inclusive society and sharing the joy of showcasing the diversity of artists talent.

Exhibition partners 

• Shared Direction Consulting - https://shareddirection.com
• Benalla Rural City Council through Benalla Art Gallery - https://benallaartgallery.com.au/unbound-2026/
• Victoria Senior Practitioner - https://www.dffh.vic.gov.au/victorian-senior-practitioner

UNBOUND Award Sponsors

• Mitre10 Benalla - https://www.facebook.com/p/Benalla-Mitre-10-100063547061795/
• Chrismont  - https://chrismont.com.au
• more to come

Following a highly successful inaugural exhibition hosted in Bendigo in 2025, which culminated in a presentation of artworks at the Queen’s Hall, Victorian Parliament House, we are ecstatic that the second exhibition will be presented in the beautiful Benalla Visitor Information Centre and engage with communities across north east Victoria. See links for the 2025 exhibition.

Bendigo Times: https://timesnewsgroup.com.au/bendigotimes/living/artists-with-disability-unbound-in-new-exhibition/

Victorian Parliament: https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/news/general-news/unbound/

https://www.instagram.com/p/DJobcGuzWEv/?hl=en

Hon Maree Edwards MP: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJuvtVdzSYx/?hl=en

Donut Creative Studio: https://www.facebook.com/donutstudiosaus/posts/we-had-a-great-morning-at-the-opening-of-the-unbound-award-this-was-an-award-for/1179256127539373/