Mayor's Message - Friday 7 November 2025

Have you noticed a splash of vibrant colours around town? Ballarat has officially stepped into Sunnyside, and it’s every bit as cheery and vibrant as it sounds.

This week’s launch of Sunnyside Art Experience has transformed the Ballarat Mining Exchange into a spectacular celebration of creativity. Step inside and you’ll find yourself surrounded by bold patterns, radiant hues, and pure wonder. It’s not just something to look at, but something to feel.  

An original production by the award-winning team at The Social Crew, Sunnyside is a bold new art adventure for Ballarat, shaped with community and inspiration at its heart. Each year, a different internationally acclaimed artist will bring their own distinctive style to Ballarat, and we couldn’t have asked for a more exciting beginning.

The inaugural installation, Chasing Sunbeams by UK artist Morag Myerscough, has turned the historic space into a kaleidoscope of joy. Morag is famous for converting public spaces with her fearless use of colour and pattern.  

Earlier this year, she spent time with our local arts community, running workshops that explored themes of belonging and identity. Those conversations helped shape Chasing Sunbeams, making the installation a reflection of Ballarat’s own character.

Her work here is playful, optimistic, and invites us to explore and reconnect with that spark of curiosity we all have inside us.  

But the magic doesn’t stop there! It spills into Ballarat’s laneways and hidden corners, with playful pop-ups, creative workshops, artist talks, and surprises waiting to be discovered. It’s art that invites you to open your mind, join in, and see our city in a whole new way.  

There’s a wonderful sense of pride in seeing Ballarat host an international artist of Morag’s calibre, and just as much pride in the local makers, fabricators, artists, and community members who helped bring this extraordinary project to life.  

Sunnyside reminds us that art isn’t just about seeing something beautiful, but about sharing happiness, telling stories, and sparking conversation.

So come take a walk on Ballarat’s Sunnyside until 23 November. Find tickets and full program details at sunnysideart.com.au.

Mayor Cr Tracey Hargreaves