Twelve artists from the Hidden Gems Art Studios collective are exhibiting their work in a month-long group show titled Hidden Gems @ The Unicorn at The Unicorn Collection in Sturt Street, Ballarat, running until 1 March. The exhibition features painting, photography, textiles, ceramics, and mixed media, with a Meet the Artists session scheduled for the evening of 6 February. Artists include Sylvia Aguirre, Jeannie King, Kate Wise, and Anne Langdon, among others.
This exhibition matters because it highlights the breadth of creative talent in the Ballarat region and demonstrates how grassroots artist collectives and local venues like The Unicorn Collection can foster community connections, collaboration, and visibility for emerging and established artists outside major metropolitan art centers. It underscores the role of regional art spaces in sustaining local creative economies.