Creative Victoria

ICYMI: The world’s most famous doll will have a new summer dream house in Melbourne when Barbie®: The Exhibition makes its Australian debut at Melbourne Museum from November 28.

Featuring more than 250 objects, including 150 dolls and the iconic Totally Hair™ Barbie, it was one of the most visited exhibitions ever staged by the Design Museum following its opening in London in 2024.

The exhibition opens on November 28, tickets on sale now at museumsvictoria.com.au

Image: Jo Underhill for the Design Museum. Supplied Melbourne Museum.
Melbourne Museum

SPOTTED: The 2026 First Peoples Melbourne Art Trams launched last week with the first tram to hit the tracks by Wadawurrung artist Marlene Gilson OAM.

Curated by Taungurung woman Kate ten Buuren, the series celebrates the power of Blak imagination and will present six moving artworks by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists with connections to Victoria.

Marlene’s tram is an E Class 6005 riding on routes 11, 86 and 96 for the next 12 months.

This initiative is supported by the Victorian Government through Transport Victoria.

📷 Happy Families – time when we all lived together, Marlene Gilson OAM, First Peoples Melbourne Art Trams, RISING, 2026. Photo by James Morgan

There's a lot to love about the St Kilda Film Festival, Australia's largest and longest-running short film festival. Don't miss the 'Made In Vic' sessions.
https://www.facebook.com/StKildaFilmFestival/posts/pfbid02BZnfV4HmE4NWSs5Ck3wKbXYEYdsT8iwfUvwkKcT3M8N3kktjnQ4stvV7My7RUWKwl

FREE: Active Bystander training

This session is a specialised music industry training workshop presented monthly by CrewCare and Support Act.

The workshop is designed to educate members of the music crewing workforce how to actively intervene when witnessing sexual harassment, assault, discrimination and bullying.

WHEN: Monday 15 Jun, 12pm - 2:30pm AEST
WHERE: Online Event
Free, but registration essential
https://events.humanitix.com/cc-copy-of-active-bystander-training-june

Recommended reading: The Bass Line report

The second edition of The Bass Line report is out, the first comprehensive, analysis of the economic contribution of the Australian music industry.
Published by Creative Australia

The Bass Line: Charting the economic contribution of Australia’s music industry The Bass Line is the first comprehensive, end-to-end analysis of the economic contribution of the Australian music industry.

🎬 Calling all emerging producers!
Bus Stop Films is on the lookout for emerging producers with a keen interest in inclusive filmmaking.
Applicants will join the team for their 2026 short film projects as Inclusive Producer's Attachments or full producer roles to bring their slate of 21 inclusively made short films to life.

You'll gain invaluable skills through via Inclusion in Action workshops and connect with a network dedicated to diversity and accessibility in film.

📅 Applications close 12 June
https://busstopfilms.com.au/production/inclusive-producer-attachment-program

Proudly supported by VicScreen

FREE GRANT WRITING WORKSHOP

Presented by Creative Ballarat, this professional development series of workshops has been designed to provide artists and arts workers with the skills and knowledge to support grant writing activities.

WHEN: Saturday 27 June, 4 July and 11 July 2026
Times: 9.45am - 1.15pm (with break)
WHERE: co-lab, Ballarat central library
Cost: Free, but registration essential

Community Art — Creative Ballarat Resources and Training.

CREATIVE OPP: Applications for the Australian Parliament House Artist-in-Residence are now open. The residency is open to visual artists working in Australia at any stage of their career who are Australian citizens.

The successful applicant will receive an artist fee of $10,000, an additional commission fee for new work of up to $30,000, and financial assistance for travel and accommodation in Canberra.

📅Applications close 16 June 2026.
More information about the application process can be found here: https://www.aph.gov.au/Visit_Parliament/Art/Parliament_House_Artist-in-Residence

Image supplied.

Congratulations to Joanne Odisho, a Melbourne furniture designer with a twist. She collects thousands of discarded eggshells from local cafes, then sterilises, dries, and processes them in a Nutribullet to create a material for her stunning Mod-u lamps.

These configurable, Jenga-inspired lighting pieces recently earned her the prestigious Australian Furniture Design Award, one of the richest design accolades in the country.

Read more about her process: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2026/may/29/australian-furniture-design-award-winner-lamp-made-of-eggshells-joanne-odisho

📷 Joanne Odisho, courtesy The Guardian.

📷 We love this shot!

From CHUNKY MOVE's milestone work 'Glow' which returns in a rare revival, twenty years after its pioneering fusion of dance and interactive technology first premiered. 'Glow' is part of the inaugural Australian Dance Biennale, now part of RISING's program.

Showcasing the work of 376 artists, the Rising Festival features more than 100 creative events including art exhibitions and installations, performances and live music as well as immersive creative experiences.

RISING runs until 8 June 2026.
Find more program highlights at: https://creative.vic.gov.au/news/2026/rising-returns-to-warm-up-melbourne/