The 2025 Mansfield Youth Art Exhibition concluded its month-long run at the Mansfield Information Centre Gallery, showcasing works by seven local artists aged 14 to 20. The exhibition launched on September 5 with an opening attended by 40 guests, featuring live music by Alana Beattie. Two awards were presented: the Amplify Artist Award to Abigail Wettenhall for her multi-medium display, and the 'Framing the Future' People's Choice Award to Molly Purcell for her oil and acrylic painting Obsidian, which won over 200 public votes.
This exhibition matters because it highlights the importance of supporting youth creativity in regional communities, with local officials like Mayor Steve Rabie and Councillor Bonnie Clark emphasizing the role of the arts in developing imagination, confidence, and emotional expression. The Amplify Committee and Mansfield Shire Youth plan to make the exhibition an annual event, reinforcing a commitment to building a thriving creative community for young people in the Mansfield Shire area.