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Art Exhibition

Art Exhibition 2026

Exhibition Details: 

Exhibition Openings: We host two exhibition opening to make the event accessible to a variety of stakeholders (teachers, students, parents, VIPs, general-public). We encourage student artists, their teachers and families to attend one of the openings, so that we may acknowledge and celebrate their learning and achievements.

Exhibition Daytime Opening: Friday 12 June, 11.30am - 12.30pm at the M16 Artspace. All are welcome. VIPs and media in attendance. 

Exhibition Evening Opening: Friday 12 June, 6 - 8pm at the M16 Artspace. All are welcome. As this is outside school hours, students need to be accompanied by parents/carers. This event is sponsored by M16.

Artwork Call Out for 2026 Promotion:  We’re looking for images of excellent artworks to be used for exhibition promotion in print and digital advertising. Open to all schools and students. Student media permissions required. Submit images with the artist's name, title of the work, medium of the work, artist's year group, artist's school, to veronica.thwaites-brown@ed.act.edu.au by Thursday 2 April, Week 10 Term 1.

Step into the Limelight Theme for 2026:  Break Through.

Expression of Interest to participate in the Art Exhibition: In order to curate the exhibition, we need to know which schools intend to participate. Complete the EOI Form by Friday 1 May 2026, Week 2 Term 2

Artwork Registration for Exhibition:  We welcome artworks from each school which document the very best of what students can achieve. Open to all students. A limited wall space is available for each school’s submission of works (approx. B1 size), but ultimately this will depend on school interest and demand. In order to develop the exhibition catalogue and label artworks, we require the details of each student work to be recorded in a registration form. Register Here by Tuesday 2 June, Week 7 Term 2

Artwork Drop Off and Collection: In order to safeguard the artworks, remove unnecessary transport, and streamline processes we have made changes to artwork drop off and collection in 2026. It will be vital that the below dates and times are adhered to in order for the exhibition to meet its installation and deinstallation requirements. If you are the art teacher involved in the exhibition, and the dates and times are prohibitive, please engage support from your school.

Artwork Drop Off: Artworks are to be safely packed, labelled and dropped off to the M16 Artspace on Tuesday 9 June from 7.30am - 12pm. If possible, we encourage artworks to be framed for ease of install and quality of presentation.

Artwork Collection: As a condition of participating in the exhibition in 2026, artworks must be collected directly from the M16 Artspace at the close of the exhibition. There are two options available for collection: Sunday 28 June 5pm - 7pm, and Monday 29 June 7.30am - 1.30pm.

Visual Art Awards:  Student artwork will be selected by a panel of industry experts and awarded at the exhibition opening.

Support the ACT’s Premier Public School Arts Event - Sponsorship

Step into the Limelight is the ACT’s flagship public school arts showcase, celebrating the talent, creativity, and diversity of over 2000 student performers and artists. With audiences of more than 1,000 across the exhibition, this is a powerful platform for community engagement and corporate visibility.

We invite businesses and organisations to partner with us as sponsors for the 2026 Art Exhibition. Your support helps make this extraordinary event possible and contributes directly to arts education in ACT public schools.

Download the Sponsorship Prospectus to explore partnership opportunities, including bespoke and in-kind support options.

Questions? 

veronica.thwaites-brown@ed.act.edu.au

6142 0477

Stay Connected: Receive Step into the Limelight updates through Facebook and Instagram.

CANDACE CAPARARO, Diminution, 2024. Ink and oil pastel on paper, Canberra College

CANDACE CAPARARO, Diminution, 2024.  Ink and oil pastel on paper, Canberra College