The City of Whittlesea's Belong: 2026 Art Exhibition has opened at the Plenty Ranges Arts and Convention Centre (PRACC) in South Morang, Australia. Now in its 17th year, the exhibition has reached a record size with 176 artists submitting 245 artworks across diverse media including painting, photography, sculpture, pottery, mosaics, and glasswork. Award winners were announced on May 6, with Rosemary Lugg winning the Mayor's Award for her work 'Fragments,' and other prizes recognizing use of materials, originality, and youth participation. The exhibition runs until May 27 and includes artist talks, workshops, and a People's Choice Award.
This exhibition matters because it demonstrates how local government arts programming can foster community identity and cultural preservation at a grassroots level. By selecting artworks for the City of Whittlesea's Cultural Collection, the exhibition actively documents the evolving identity of a culturally diverse community, with artists ranging from six to 92 years old. The record participation numbers and expanded programming signal growing public engagement with visual arts in suburban and regional contexts, offering a counterpoint to major metropolitan art world narratives.