ACI Member Exhibition “Sense of Place III – on perspective and place within the macro and micro” at Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve – the last in this series for 2026. Please note: It does overlap with our changed dates for Open Studios Sunshine Coast.

Arts Connect Inc. invites emerging and mid-career artists for Sense of Place III, to be held at Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve.

This exhibition is designed to provide a dedicated platform for artists who may not be participating in the Open Studios Sunshine Coast Art Trail, offering a valuable opportunity to exhibit within a highly regarded hinterland setting.

Exhibition Details:

• Theme: Sense of Place III – perspective and place within the macro and micro – entry form explains this in more detail.
• Entry Fee: $35 (to assist with venue costs)
• Commission: 15%
• Entries: Maximum of 3 works per artist (2D and/or 3D, subject to space limitations)
• Work: Must be original and not previously exhibited in recent local ACI exhibitions

Key Dates:

• Entries Open: 30 March 2026
• Entries closed early due to sufficient entries received, thank you.
• Installation (Bump In): From Monday 13 July
• Exhibition Opens: Saturday 18 July
• Exhibition Closes & Artist Gathering: Sunday 2 August

Artist Participation:

• Artists are required to be on roster during the exhibition from 10am–3pm and commit to at least one rostered shift per week
• One artist meeting will be held prior to the exhibition to meet the venue team and finalise details

Additional Opportunities:

• Selected works may be featured in promotional material
• A full-page feature in the Open Studios Trail Guide (valued at $500)
• Promotion via ACI, venue channels, and regional platforms including ATDW and Sunshine Coast Events
• Visitation at the reserve is in the hundreds nearly every day.

Please Note:
To ensure broad opportunity across our membership, priority may be given to artists not participating in the 2026 Open Studios event.

We warmly encourage artists to respond to the continuation of the theme – “Sense of Place III – perspective and place within the macro and micro”. Artists are encouraged to explore connections between environment, scale, and story—drawing inspiration from the rich ecology of the surrounding landscape.
Work must be new work, and not previously exhibited in or around Sunshine Coast recently ie. Cooroy Butter Factory.
From forest floor to sweeping hinterland views, this exhibition invites work that reflects on environmental, interdependence, fragility, and resilience, and how art can deepen our connection to place and sustainability. Audience engagement is at the heart of this project.

Arts Connect Inc Committee