Yarrila Arts and Museum

Wellbeing Workshop Program for organisations, community groups, and schools
2026-01-01 10:00 - 2026-12-31 16:00 (Australia/Sydney)
Wellbeing Workshop Program for organisations, community groups, and schools

Event, Program

Where art meets wellbeing – A creative path to connection and healing

Event, Program

‘ESSSENSSSE’ Live Performance!
When

22 Jan 202612:00 pm – 12:30 pm

AgesAllCostFree Reserve your spot

Join us at Yarrila Arts and Museum (YAM) for a powerful and inspiring workshop designed to nurture mental wellbeing through creative expression. Available for organisations, community groups and schools.

Led by experienced YAM program facilitators, this two-hour workshop combines a guided tour of the current exhibitions with a hands-on artmaking workshop developed renowned artist Hiromi Tango. Hiromi’s artworks explore the healing potential of textile-based art through a meditative and collaborative process.

These workshops are offered in 2026 to schools, community groups, and organisations across the region, they are not open to individuals. Please register your interest to participate.

Why participate?

Connect: Strengthen community bonds through shared creative experiences.

Support wellbeing: Discover the calming, expressive, and restorative benefits of art.

Be part of something bigger: Contribute to Hiromi Tango’s evolving and ongoing Healing Garden project.

Whether you’re new to art or an experienced creator, this inclusive and uplifting experience is designed for all ages and abilities.

Register your interest to book your group or find out more via Email: education@chcc.nsw.gov.au

Under The Sea Painting - With Karlee Rawkins
2026-01-13 13:30 - 15:30
Under The Sea Painting – With Karlee Rawkins

Event, Program

Dive beneath the waves and let your imagination swim wild in this colourful holiday workshop with artist Karlee Rawkins.

Image Credit: Karlee Rawkins, Rainbow trout, acrylic on canvas.

Event, Program

‘ESSSENSSSE’ Live Performance!
When

22 Jan 202612:00 pm – 12:30 pm

AgesAllCostFree Reserve your spot

Dive beneath the waves and let your imagination swim wild in this colourful holiday workshop with artist Karlee Rawkins. Young artists will get inspired by YAM’s current exhibition ESSSENSSSE by the artist HOSSEI and explore a magical underwater world. They will then bring their discoveries to life through expressive painting.

Guided by Karlee’s playful approach to colour and pattern, participants will experiment with brushwork, colours, and bold shapes to create their very own marine animal masterpiece. All materials supplied.

Contemporary Collage
2026-01-14 13:30 - 15:30
Contemporary Collage

Event, Program

Join Coffs Coast artist Alykat for a fun and thought-provoking contemporary collage workshop inspired by Deborah Kelly’s exhibition CREATION.

Event, Program

‘ESSSENSSSE’ Live Performance!
When

22 Jan 202612:00 pm – 12:30 pm

AgesAllCostFree Reserve your spot

Join Coffs Coast artist Alykat for a fun and thought-provoking contemporary collage workshop inspired by Deborah Kelly’s exhibition CREATION.

In this interactive workshop, participants will delve into themes of identity and imagination through the art of collage. Working with striking imagery, vibrant patterns, and expressive text, they’ll layer elements to craft bold, contemporary artworks that tell a story.

All materials are supplied, just bring your curiosity and creative spark!

STEAM - Marine Art Adventure
2026-01-16 13:30 - 15:30
STEAM – Marine Art Adventure

Event, Program

In this hands-on creative STEAM session, young scientists will explore the fascinating world of marine biology.

Image: Coral structure courtesy of Adrienne Gooden

Event, Program

‘ESSSENSSSE’ Live Performance!
When

22 Jan 202612:00 pm – 12:30 pm

AgesAllCostFree Reserve your spot

In this hands-on creative STEAM session, young scientists will explore the fascinating world of marine biology – from tiny plankton to swirling seaweed structures – and use microscopes to look closely at natural forms.

Inspired by YAM’s current exhibition ESSSENSSSE by the artist HOSSEI and their scientific discoveries, participants will then create vibrant artworks that capture the hidden beauty of the sea.

Create And Perform Your Own Wearable Art!
2026-01-22 10:00 - 11:30
Create And Perform Your Own Wearable Art!

Event, Program

Join our hands-on workshop inspired by ESSSENSSSE, YAM’s current exhibition by artist HOSSEI.

Photo courtesy of And the Trees Photography

Event, Program

‘ESSSENSSSE’ Live Performance!
When

22 Jan 202612:00 pm – 12:30 pm

AgesAllCostFree Reserve your spot

Join our hands-on workshop inspired by ESSSENSSSE, YAM’s current exhibition by artist HOSSEI. Explore vibrant textures to craft your own wearable art to parade in the live performance that celebrates imagination, self-expression and connection.

All children must be accompanied by an adult and can drop in to The Workshop at YAM any time between 10 and 11:30am. This drop-in workshop will be followed by the ESSSENSSSE live performance.

'ESSSENSSSE' Live Performance!
2026-01-22 12:00 - 12:30
‘ESSSENSSSE’ – Live performance

Event, Program

HOSSEI, ESSSENSSSE, 2023. Performer Lauren Booker. Photography by Jacquie Manning.

Event, Program

‘ESSSENSSSE’ Live Performance!
When

22 Jan 202612:00 pm – 12:30 pm

AgesAllCostFree Reserve your spot

UPDATE – we’re experiencing an error with our booking system. If you get a message that tickets for the 12:00pm ESSSENSSSE Live Performance are sold out please disregard and join us for the event – we won’t be checking tickets. We look forward to seeing you at the event!

Step into the world of ESSSENSSSE and watch the vibrant celebration of movement, emotion and transformation. HOSSEI and his performers will bring the themes of the exhibition to life though an unforgettable mix of performance, sound and visual expression.

Expect bold colour, playful energy, raw emotion and a whole lot of fun!

HOSSEI I ESSSENSSSE22 November 2025 – 1 February 2026

ESSSENSSSE is a joyful work about healing and new beginnings by contemporary artist HOSSEI. Featuring otherworldly sea creatures in a playful and multi-sensory aquatic themed ecosystem, this immersive installation creates a dynamic space for all ages and abilities that invites audiences to celebrate their inner creative spirit and explore art through more than just sight.

ESSSENSSSE is a Verge Gallery exhibition curated by Tesha Malott, touring in partnership with Museums & Galleries of NSW, supported by the University of Sydney and proudly funded by the NSW Government. Verge Gallery is supported by the University of Sydney Union.

Image credit: Deborah Kelly, from the CREATION collage suite, 2019-ongoing, image courtesy of the artist; HOSSEI, ESSSENSSSE, 2023. Performer Lauren Booker. Photography by Jacquie Manning.

YAM Up Late
2026-01-22 17:00 - 19:00
YAM Up Late

Event, Program

Step into an unforgettable night at YAM Up Late!

Image credit: HOSSEI, ESSSENSSSE (performance view), 2024. Image courtesy of Verge Gallery. Photograph Jacquie Manning.

Event, Program

‘ESSSENSSSE’ Live Performance!
When

22 Jan 202612:00 pm – 12:30 pm

AgesAllCostFree Reserve your spot

UPDATE – we’re experiencing an error with our booking system. If you get a message that tickets for YAM Up Late are sold out please disregard and join us for the event – we won’t be checking tickets. We look forward to seeing you at the event!

Experience an unforgettable night at YAM Up Late!

Celebrate summer evenings at Yarrila Arts and Museum (YAM) with a vibrant mix of art, music, and flavour. Wander through exhibitions after hours, dive into creative art-making for adults, and enjoy live performances under the fig tree with drinks and wood-fired pizza. It’s the perfect way to wind down with friends and soak up the creative spirit of Coffs Harbour.

What’s on:

– A bold, dynamic performance of ESSSENSSSE by HOSSEI

– Collage-making inspired by CREATION with artist AlyKat

– Beats by DJ Jemka to set the vibe

– Delicious pizza from OneTwoFive

– Handcrafted gin cocktails from Emerald Island Distillery at the YAM Bar

It’s the ultimate mix of art, movement, music, and flavour — and best of all, it’s free to attend!

Step into the world of ESSSENSSSE and watch the vibrant celebration of movement, emotion and transformation. HOSSEI and his performers will bring the themes of the exhibition to life though an unforgettable mix of performance, sound and visual expression.

Expect bold colour, playful energy, raw emotion and a whole lot of fun!

HOSSEI I ESSSENSSSE22 November 2025 – 1 February 2026

ESSSENSSSE is a joyful work about healing and new beginnings by contemporary artist HOSSEI. Featuring otherworldly sea creatures in a playful and multi-sensory aquatic themed ecosystem, this immersive installation creates a dynamic space for all ages and abilities that invites audiences to celebrate their inner creative spirit and explore art through more than just sight.

ESSSENSSSE is a Verge Gallery exhibition curated by Tesha Malott, touring in partnership with Museums & Galleries of NSW, supported by the University of Sydney and proudly funded by the NSW Government. Verge Gallery is supported by the University of Sydney Union.

YAM Young Creatives
2026-02-02 16:00 - 2026-12-17 16:00
YAM Young Creatives 2026

Event, Program

Event, Program

‘ESSSENSSSE’ Live Performance!
When

22 Jan 202612:00 pm – 12:30 pm

AgesAllCostFree Reserve your spot

As a YAM Young Creative, you will meet like-minded creative young people, learn from artists, participate in workshops, contribute to youth programs and gain both personal and professional insights into creative industries and working in a gallery or museum. YAM Young Creatives meet twice a month (once virtually and once in-person at YAM) from February until December 2026. Upon completion of the program, participants will be issued with a personalised certificate for their contribution to the program.

There is no cost involved to join this program, but participants will need to complete an enrolment form. If you need assistance with the enrolment form or have special needs, please contact Toni Southwell (details below). Enrolments will be open until all places are filled and participants can join throughout the year if places become available.

Applications are open until all places are filled.

The next meeting will be in February 2026.

For more information and to apply visit the website or contact:

Toni SouthwellPrograms Facilitator Gallery and Museum

culturaldevelopment@chcc.nsw.gov.au

02 6648 4700

YAM Young Creatives is a 12-month program, proudly supported by Museums and Galleries NSW – 2022 Audience Development Fund.

Image credit: And The Tree Photography

YAM Teeny Tours
2026-02-06 10:00 - 2026-12-11 10:00
YAM Teeny Tours

Event, Program

Immerse your child in artful conversations, cultural exploration and creative play in Teeny Tours at Yarrila Arts and Museum

Photo courtesy of And the Trees Photography

Event, Program

‘ESSSENSSSE’ Live Performance!
When

22 Jan 202612:00 pm – 12:30 pm

AgesAllCostFree Reserve your spot

Immerse your child in artful conversations, cultural exploration and creative play in Teeny Tours at Yarrila Arts and Museum. These sessions are fun, adventurous and engaging for both children and their carer’s. They include an exhibition tour, artmaking, story time and creative play, with a different exhibition explored each week. Teeny Tours are small group sessions and are accessible for all young children.

Held every Friday in 2026, 10am – 11am (during school term)

Weekly bookings are required. Numbers are limited.

Suggested for ages 3–6 years and their carers.

Strollers, snacks and drinks are welcome.

Meet in The Workshop, Yarrila Arts and Museum (YAM), Ground floor Yarrila Place.

Enquires: culturaldevelopment@chcc.nsw.gov.au

Natalya Hughes The Interior
2026-02-07 00:00 - 2026-03-15 23:59
‘ESSSENSSSE’ Live Performance!

Event, Program

The Interior invites audiences into an exaggerated consultation room playfully furnished for psychoanalysis.

Natayla Hughes, fabric design (detail) from The Interior, 2022. Image courtesy of the artist.

Event, Program

‘ESSSENSSSE’ Live Performance!
When

22 Jan 202612:00 pm – 12:30 pm

AgesAllCostFree Reserve your spot

The immersive installation combines sculptural seating, richly patterned soft furnishings, and uncanny object d’art, nestled around a hand painted mural to generate a stimulating space to unpack our collective and unconscious biases. Audiences are invited to recline and be enveloped, soothed, and held by the furniture’s womanly forms while taking turns playing analyst and patient.The Interior is a travelling exhibition organised by the Institute of Modern Art and toured by Museums and Galleries Queensland.

Janet Besançon Monokini
2026-02-12 10:00 - 2026-03-15 10:00
‘ESSSENSSSE’ Live Performance!

Event, Program

Australian–French artist Janet Besançon explores themes of labour, resilience, and cultural identity through a diverse range of mediums and sustainable practices.

Janet Besançon, Monokini 4, 2025, pigments, clay (detail)

Event, Program

‘ESSSENSSSE’ Live Performance!
When

22 Jan 202612:00 pm – 12:30 pm

AgesAllCostFree Reserve your spot

Her work combines gouache, acrylic, oil, pure French pigments, and raw Gumbaynggirr country pigments with natural materials such as clay and charcoal, grounding her art in both European and Australian traditions.

Monokini is a striking series of 28 abstract paintings created using French pigments, Australian white clay, and everyday domestic utensils – sponges, mops, and kitchen tools. These objects, often linked to unpaid household labour, become instruments of protest and expression. The repetitive, physical process mirrors the gestures of cleaning and caregiving, while the final layers of white clay evoke healing, silencing, and erasure.

The number 28 is symbolic, referencing the menstrual cycle and the rhythms of the female body. Through this, Besançon honours women’s resilience and generational strength, challenging the invisibility of domestic work. In Coffs Harbour – a city shaped by diverse migrant communities – the exhibition invites cross-cultural dialogue on gender roles and shared experiences.

Ultimately, Monokini asks us to reconsider the tools we overlook, the cycles we silence, and the labour we too often take for granted.

Cheeky Collage & Cocktails with AlyKat (Adults 18+)
2026-02-12 17:30 - 19:30
Cheeky Collage & Cocktails with AlyKat (Adults 18+)

Event, Program

Join us for a special workshop event at Yarrila Arts and Museum (YAM).

Image: Self portrait collage by AlyKat

Event, Program

‘ESSSENSSSE’ Live Performance!
When

22 Jan 202612:00 pm – 12:30 pm

AgesAllCostFree Reserve your spot

Inspired by the bold, provocative collage practice of Deborah Kelly and her exhibition CREATION, this adults-only workshop invites you to make art that’s a little bit daring!

The event will start with a private tour of CREATION followed by drinks and snacks, then a hands-on artmaking workshop led by Alykat.

Using found imagery, text and mixed media, participants will create a contemporary collage that explores humour, contradiction and delight. Expect a relaxed, social atmosphere where rules are bent and ideas overlap. A glass of bubbles or a gin cocktail is included to help the scissors glide and the conversations flow.

No experience necessary just bring you curiosity, a sense of fun, and a willingness to get a bit cheeky with your artmaking.

All materials and refreshments are provided.

Janet Besançon: Monokini Exhibition Opening
2026-02-13 17:30 - 19:00
‘ESSSENSSSE’ Live Performance!

Event, Program

Yarrila Arts and Museum invites you and your guests to the opening of Janet Besançon Monokini.

Janet Besançon, Monokini 4, 2025, pigments, clay (detail)

Event, Program

‘ESSSENSSSE’ Live Performance!
When

22 Jan 202612:00 pm – 12:30 pm

AgesAllCostFree Reserve your spot

Official Opening of the Exhibition

Event begins at 5:30pm on Friday 13 February and concludes at 7:00pm.

Light refreshments provided. YAM Bar open

Long Pose Portrait Sessions
2026-02-15 10:30 - 13:30, 2026-03-22 10:30 - 13:30, 2026-04-19 10:30 - 13:30
Long Pose Portrait Sessions

Event, Program

Join artist Seabastion Toast for a relaxed, inspiring long pose drawing experience at Yarrila Arts and Museum.

Event, Program

‘ESSSENSSSE’ Live Performance!
When

22 Jan 202612:00 pm – 12:30 pm

AgesAllCostFree Reserve your spot

Observe. Develop, Perfect.

These untutored sessions, held one Sunday each month, offer three hours of uninterrupted creative time, perfect for artists of all levels to slow down, focus deeply, and connect with the clothed figure through longer, sustained poses.

Whether you’re just beginning or looking to push your creative boundaries, this is your chance to:

– Sharpen your observation skills

– Refine your technique in your chosen medium

– Develop more layered, detailed works overtime

Work at your own pace in a calm, welcoming environment. While there’s no formal instruction, Seabastion will draw and paint alongside participants, providing a unique glimpse into her personal process and approach to figurative art.

Each session is gently facilitated to ensure a supportive and respectful atmosphere, making it the ideal setting to experiment, grow, or simply enjoy a few uninterrupted hours of creative flow.

Sessions are ticketed individually and run monthly. Each one is a fresh opportunity to reconnect with your practice and other artists.

Duration: 3 hours (with regular short breaks – tea coffee and biscuits provided)

All mediums are welcome, including drawing, painting, and mixed media. Basic materials such as paper, charcoal, graphite, and a small selection of acrylic paints will be provided. If you’d like to work with other materials, feel free to bring your own – just ensure they’re low-irritant and easy to clean up.

Model: Clothed and seated in the same position throughout (with lighting)

Facilitator: Seabastion Toast

Equipment: Easels, stool, chair, clips and boards provided

International Women's Day
2026-03-05 12:00 - 13:00
‘ESSSENSSSE’ Live Performance!

Event, Program

Celebrate International Women’s Day with a thought‑provoking panel discussion featuring Australian-French artist Janet Besançon and First Nations author Judi Morison.

Event, Program

‘ESSSENSSSE’ Live Performance!
When

22 Jan 202612:00 pm – 12:30 pm

AgesAllCostFree Reserve your spot

Through visual art and storytelling, Janet Besançon and Judi Morison share perspectives that illuminate resilience and creativity. The panel discussion will be chaired by Annie Talve, chair of ArtsNational Coffs Coast.

Janet Besançon’s is an Australian-French artist who explores themes of labour, resilience, and cultural identity in her practice. Her solo exhibition Monokini, currently on display at Yarrila Arts and Museum, is a powerful series of 28 abstract paintings created with French pigments, Australian white clay, and everyday domestic tools, transforming objects of unpaid labour into instruments of protest and expression. Each piece reflects on the invisible, undervalued work expected of women, while the symbolic cycle of 28 paintings honours resilience and generational strength.

Judi Morison is a storyteller whose writing engages with truth-telling through fiction. Her debut novel, Secrets, which won the 2022 Boundless Indigenous Writer’s Mentorship, was published by Bundyi in 2025 and her short fiction and poetry have been published in various literary anthologies. Judi’s historical novel manuscript, ‘Crossing the Creek’, was shortlisted for The Australian Fiction Prize 2025 and will be published by Bundyi in January 2027. After 23 years on Wadi Wadi Country, where the South Coast Writers Centre was important in her writing journey, Judi now lives gratefully on Gumbaynggirr Country.

Seniors Festival
2026-03-09 10:30 - 11:00
‘ESSSENSSSE’ Live Performance!

Event, Program

Join this gallery tour by YAM’s Senior Curator, developed especially for Seniors Festival.

Event, Program

‘ESSSENSSSE’ Live Performance!
When

22 Jan 202612:00 pm – 12:30 pm

AgesAllCostFree Reserve your spot

Tour includes exhibition explorations to engage the senses. Discover the hidden stories, materials and inspirations behind selected works in the galleries.For any accessibility requirements please email: yamprograms@chcc.nsw.gov.au

Following this tour is a paid art workshop: Colour at Play with Jan Allsopp (bookings essential).

Colour at play with Jan Allsopp
2026-03-09 11:00 - 12:30
‘ESSSENSSSE’ Live Performance!

Event, Program

Celebrate the bold playful use of colour in the work of Natalya Hughes’ exhibition The Interior in this joyful hands-on painting and collage workshop designed especially for Seniors Festival.

Event, Program

‘ESSSENSSSE’ Live Performance!
When

22 Jan 202612:00 pm – 12:30 pm

AgesAllCostFree Reserve your spot

Inspired by the spirited energy of contemporary art and colour play, there are no rules. No prior painting experience is needed but experienced artists also welcome.

Guided by practising artist, Jan Allsop, participants will experiment with paint simple marks and intuitive choices. The emphasis will be on play rather than perfection with plenty of room to chat and enjoy the process.

Cost: $10 seniors (Especially for Seniors Festival)| $20 general admission

All materials are provided.

Deborah Kelly CREATION Performance
2026-03-14 17:30 - 20:00
Deborah KellyCREATION Performance

Event, Program

Step into a living contemporary art ceremony at YAM.

Photo by Lucy Parakhina

Event, Program

‘ESSSENSSSE’ Live Performance!
When

22 Jan 202612:00 pm – 12:30 pm

AgesAllCostFree Reserve your spot

You are invited to an unforgettable CREATION performance by acclaimed artist Deborah Kelly and her collaborators from near and far. Experience this powerful contemporary art performance that merges ceremony, collective ritual and visionary story telling. Known for her striking visual worlds and transformative works, Deborah Kelly invites audiences into an immersive experience where art becomes action and community becomes creator. This one-of-a-kind event showcases CREATION Chorale – a cohort of Coffs Coast choristers and musicians led by Ruth Kennedy along with guest soloist Natasha Rusterholz (Newcastle) and composer Lex Lindsay (Sydney). Through costumes, song and spectacle, this event celebrates creativity, connection and unity. From 5:30pm, view Deborah Kelly’s CREATION and accompanying exhibitions in the galleries, grab a drink at the YAM Bar, and get hands-on with collage making inspired by CREATION before experiencing the CREATION Chorale performance in Yarrila Place’s soaring central atrium.

Please note seating will be limited. Please contact us at yamprograms@chcc.nsw.gov.au if seating is required.

Deborah Kelly I CREATION 22 November 2025 – 15 March 2026 CREATION is a multi-dimensional and cross-disciplinary artwork developed by contemporary artist Deborah Kelly. Born from collaborations with communities across Australia, the immersive installation featuring video, textiles, costumes and ceramics invites audiences to explore a queer, climate-conscious belief system that celebrates possibility, and collective dreaming.

CREATION is supported by the Australian Government through Creative Australia.

Seabastion Toast Seeing other people
2026-03-19 10:00 - 2026-04-19 14:00
‘ESSSENSSSE’ Live Performance!

Event, Program

Through portraiture, Seabastion Toast examines observation as both discipline and encounter in Seeing other people. Each work negotiates the space between what is seen and what is felt, between the speed of recognition and the slower accumulation of paint.

Seabastion Toast, Aimee, 2025, oil on canvas (detail)

Event, Program

‘ESSSENSSSE’ Live Performance!
When

22 Jan 202612:00 pm – 12:30 pm

AgesAllCostFree Reserve your spot

When invited to participate in Australia’s first televised Portrait Artist of the Year, Seabastion Toast had never painted alla prima (wet on wet technique) nor completed a work in under four hours. Faced with the constraint of speed and public scrutiny, she did what she always does when confronted with a challenge: she trained.

For eleven weeks, five days a week, for four hours a day, she restructured her process around immediacy and sustained observation. The resulting works, many of which form this exhibition, document that period of concentrated looking. Some remain raw four-hour studies, while others have been further developed. Together they trace a shift in method while extending an ongoing investigation into perception.Anchored in portraiture but grounded in broader concerns of composition and attention, these paintings examine observation as both discipline and encounter. Each work negotiates the space between what is seen and what is felt, between the speed of recognition and the slower accumulation of paint.Working from both familiar and unfamiliar faces, the paintings reflect on presence and on what remains when a fleeting encounter is translated into pigment. Some retain the urgency of their making; others carry the density of extended looking. Throughout, light, value and structure are used to test how perception shifts across a surface.These works invite the viewer not simply to look, but to see through the changing conditions of light, time and touch.Seabastion Toast is a contemporary Australian painter based on the mid-North Coast of NSW. Working primarily with figurative subjects, interiors and domestic spaces, she constructs structurally rigorous compositions that balance clarity, pattern and atmosphere. Her paintings investigate the act of looking and the texture of everyday life, using colour and value to carry emotional and narrative weight.Toast has been a regular finalist in major national prizes including the Portia Geach Memorial Award, Mosman Art Prize, Glover Prize and Sunshine Coast Art Prizes. In 2024 she won the $40,000 Percival Portrait Prize and has twice received the Darcy Doyle Landscape Prize. In 2025 she appeared on ABC’s Portrait Artist of the Year Australia.

Seabastion Toast: Seeing other people Exhibition Opening
2026-03-19 17:30 - 19:30
‘ESSSENSSSE’ Live Performance!

Event, Program

Yarrila Arts and Museum invites you and your guests to the launch of Seabastion Toast’s exhibition, Seeing other people. Artist talk from 5:30pm, exhibition opening 6:00 – 7:30 pm

Seabastion Toast, Aimee, 2025, oil on canvas (detail)

Event, Program

‘ESSSENSSSE’ Live Performance!
When

22 Jan 202612:00 pm – 12:30 pm

AgesAllCostFree Reserve your spot

Join us for the launch of Seabastion Toast’s exhibition, Seeing other people.

Event begins at 5:30pm on Thursday 19 March

Artist talk in the gallery from 5:30 pm – 6:00 pm

YAM Bar open from 6:00 pm with light refreshments provided.

Event concludes 7:30 pm

Take a Moment in March
2026-03-25 12:00 - 13:30
Take a Moment in March

Event, Program

Take a Moment in March offers a creative pause in the middle of your busy week.

Event, Program

‘ESSSENSSSE’ Live Performance!
When

22 Jan 202612:00 pm – 12:30 pm

AgesAllCostFree Reserve your spot

This well-being program invites you to slow down, recharge, and reconnect.

Enjoy a mix of guided tours and hands‑on creative sessions designed to inspire creativity and mindfulness.

Take a break. Explore your creativity. Recharge your mind.

This month participants can join a guided tour and take part in a guided artmaking session.At midday join YAM’s Senior Curator for a guided exhibition tour of YAM.Any time from 12:00 – 1:30pm take part in the guided artmaking session as a restorative experience exploring your creativity. Workshop facilitators will be available to guide participants. There will be drawing and mixed media art supplies available for a creative art making session.Participants can join at any time throughout the session and stay for little or as long as they like.Whether you’re looking for a moment of mindful creativity, a cultural escape, or a relaxed way to catch up with friends, Take a Moment in March offers a welcoming space to pause and resetBookings are recommended but not essential. Free tea and coffee are available, and participants can bring their lunch.

RELICS: A New World Rises Opening Day
2026-03-28 09:30 - 14:00
‘ESSSENSSSE’ Live Performance!

Event, Program

Join us on Saturday 28 March for the opening day of RELICS: A New World Rises, a spectacular new exhibition at Yarrila Arts and Museum.

Image courtesy Auckland Museum

Event, Program

‘ESSSENSSSE’ Live Performance!
When

22 Jan 202612:00 pm – 12:30 pm

AgesAllCostFree Reserve your spot

Be among the very first to experience this immersive world of imagination, storytelling and LEGO® creativity.

Meet LEGO® Masters winners and RELICS creators Jackson Harvey and Alex Towler, dive into scavenger hunts, get hands‑on with LEGO® building and challenges, and hear the stories behind the exhibition straight from the creators themselves. From playful making to behind‑the‑scenes insights, it’s a full day of discovery for curious kids, families and grown‑ups alike.

Opening day activities are free to attend. RELICS exhibition tickets sold separately.What’s On

9:30am – 10am Welcome and official opening with RELICS creators Jackson Harvey and Alex Towler and Mayor Nikki Williams. 10am – 2pm RELICS: A New World Rises exhibition sessions Available at 10am and 12 noon Includes free scavenger hunts for children and adults Exhibition tickets can be booked online or purchased at the YAM front desk. 10am – 2pm RELICS Play Space The Workshop Drop in and build your own creation inspired by RELICS Free – no bookings required. 10:30am – 1:30pmLEGO® ChallengesGround Floor, Children’s LibraryAre you a LEGO® Master? Take part in a LEGO® challenge!Free. Sessions at 10:30, 11:30 and 12:30. 11:30am – 12:30pm Meet the creators: Jackson Harvey and Alex Towler Story Space, Ground Floor, Children’s Library Hear what inspired RELICS and how this exhibition came to life Free – bookings essential. Peach and Wolf Café will be open for refreshments on the day. YAM Shop Take a piece of RELICS home with you! Visit the YAM Shop for RELICS books, programs and caps, plus mini-figures, STEAM kits and upcycled jewellery. Perfect for LEGO® fans, collectors, and curious minds.

RELICS A New World Rises
2026-03-28 10:00 - 2026-07-19 16:00
Vintage objects meet miniature LEGO® brick worlds in RELICS: A New World Rises, an extraordinary exhibition created by LEGO® Masters winners.

Tickets on sale!

The year is 2130. Humans have long abandoned planet Earth after mass-consumption led to an exhaustion of all its natural resources. The world is slowly recovering and showing signs of new life. A series of discarded objects are blossoming with LEGO® civilisations; each one inspired by the relic they now call home. RELICS: A New World Rises explores an imagined future, one that might not be as far removed from reality as we think.

RELICS: A New World Rises is an immersive experience that’s equal parts nostalgic and thought-provoking, where vintage objects and LEGO® brick creations tell tales of a possible future. Created by LEGO® Masters winners, Jackson Harvey and Alex Towler, RELICS inspires curiosity for all ages and invites you to explore artistic intricacy and story-telling in an extraordinary way. Discover intricate LEGO® brick civilisations thriving inside treasured objects from our past. Within each relic, the LEGO® civilisation has adapted to the distinctive character of the artefact it inhabits. A vintage refrigerator becomes a cryogenic health resort, a typewriter transforms into a newspaper headquarters, and a Volkswagen Beetle houses an energy revolution, each with hundreds of hidden stories waiting to be uncovered.

Event, Program

‘ESSSENSSSE’ Live Performance!
When

22 Jan 202612:00 pm – 12:30 pm

AgesAllCostFree Reserve your spot

Ticket Prices

Adult$21.00Child (4 – 16 years)$13.00Student/Concession$15.00Family (2 Adults + 2 Children)$55.00Infants (3 years and under)FREE

Buy your tickets

Exhibition Highlights:

12 immersive displays combining vintage objects with intricate worlds built from LEGO® bricks

Created by LEGO® Masters winners Jackson Harvey and Alex Towler

Layered storytelling that rewards curious minds of all ages with details and discoveries

Interactive build area where you can create and display your own model using LEGO® bricks

Custom scavenger hunt with different versions for children and adults

Audio guide: Download the free accessible audio description guide to your device before arriving and remember to bring your own headphones for the best listening experience

This is not your typical exhibition. RELICS: A New World Rises is an immersive art experience that’s equal parts nostalgic and thought-provoking – what Co-Creator Jackson Harvey describes as “the love child between an antique shop, The LEGO® Movie, and Blade Runner.”

Don’t miss this extraordinary exhibition where forgotten objects and LEGO® brick creations tell tales of a possible future.

LEGO® is a trademark of The LEGO Group which does not sponsor, authorise or endorse this exhibition.

Plan Your Visit To Coffs Harbour

RELICS and The Observatory Apartments Couples Package

Enjoy two adult tickets to RELICS at YAM, two nights accommodation in Ocean View Studio Apartment for two at The Observatory Apartments and a $70 voucher for dinner or breakfast at Stef & Co.

RELICS and BIG 4 Park Beach Holiday Park Family Package

Enjoy a family ticket ( 2 Adults & 2 Children) to RELICS at YAM and two nights accommodation in a Beach Villa at Big 4 Holiday Perk at Park Beach.

Discover Where to Stay, Eat and Explore on the Coffs Coast

Coming for RELICS? Stay to explore the Coffs Coast. Discover places to visit, eat and unwind around your museum experience. Plan your trip and enjoy a region where culture, nature and creativity meet.

Play the RELICS game on the Coffs Coast Explorer App

LAUNCHING 28 MARCH -The minifigs have escaped! Track them down across the Coffs Coast using the Explorer App, collect them all, and uncover hidden locations along the way. Complete the game and redeem your reward when you visit RELICS at YAM.

Current Exhibitions

RELICS Adult Groups
2026-03-28 10:00 - 2026-07-19 14:00
Vintage objects meet miniature LEGO® brick worlds in RELICS: A New World Rises, an extraordinary exhibition created by LEGO® Masters winners.

Group Bookings for Adults

Event, Program

Looking for a unique and memorable outing for your group?

RELICS: A New World Rises is the perfect experience for social groups, community organisations, workplaces, hobby clubs, seniors’ groups, and anyone who enjoys creativity, storytelling, and a bit of nostalgic fun.

Created by LEGO® Masters Australia winners Jackson Harvey and Alex Towler, RELICS transforms ordinary vintage objects into extraordinary miniature worlds built entirely from LEGO®. Each scene is full of intricate detail, clever storytelling, humour, and surprises – offering something new with every glance.

Why adult groups love RELICS:

Whether your group is after an inspiring cultural outing or simply something fresh and delightful to experience together, RELICS offers:Nostalgia & Wonder – Adults connect instantly with the joy of LEGO®, rediscovering childhood creativity while enjoying the sophistication of the artworks.Art, Design & Craftsmanship – The skill, imagination, and meticulous craftsmanship behind each miniature world appeals to art lovers, makers, designers, and anyone who enjoys seeing the extraordinary in the everyday.Storytelling & Conversation – Every RELIC is a tiny universe filled with characters, clues, and humour. The scenes spark conversation, storytelling, and collective puzzle‑solving – great for social and community groups.Perfect for Social Outings – RELICS is accessible, uplifting, and appeals to all ages and interests. It’s an easy, welcoming outing for mixed‑interest groups and diverse communities.

What your group visit can include:

Your booking can be tailored depending on your group’s interests and needs:

A short introduction exploring the artists’ process and stories behind the scenes

Time for looking closely, photographing, and exploring the exhibition at your own pace. Please allow at least 60 minutes to experience RELICS

‘Young at heart’ scavenger hunt specially designed for adult visitors

Optional hands‑on creative activities or LEGO® challenges (subject to availability)

Accessible gallery spaces suitable for all mobility levels

Seating, air‑conditioning, and staff support to make your visit relaxed and enjoyable

Multilevel carparking adjacent to YAM with accessible parking on the ground floor

Peach and Wolf café on site for refreshments

RELICS is ideal for:

Seniors and retirement groups

Adult community education

Workplace team outings

Social clubs and hobby groups

Disability and access groups

Book clubs and creative collectives

Tourism and visitor groups

Multigenerational groups

Cultural or language learning groups

Multicultural groups

Bookings:

Bookings are essential for all adult groups.Bookings for group of 10 or more will receive a 15% discountTo make a booking or discuss how we can tailor your visit, please contact:education@chcc.nsw.gov.au or phone (02) 6648 4700

We look forward to welcoming your group to experience the creativity, wonder, and playful brilliance of RELICS: A New World Rises at Yarrila Arts & Museum.

LEGO® is a trademark of The LEGO Group which does not sponsor, authorise or endorse this exhibition.

RELICS Education Groups
2026-03-28 10:00 - 2026-07-19 14:00
Vintage objects meet miniature LEGO® brick worlds in RELICS: A New World Rises, an extraordinary exhibition created by LEGO® Masters winners.

‘ESSSENSSSE’ Live Performance!

Event, Program

Step into a world where imagination builds the impossible.

RELICS: A New World Rises is the perfect learning adventure for school groups, student excursions, and community education programs.

Created by LEGO® Masters winners Jackson Harvey and Alex Towler, RELICS transforms everyday objects into extraordinary miniature worlds made entirely from LEGO®. Each scene is packed with stories, characters, humour, and hidden details that ignite curiosity and reward close looking.

Image Credit: Auckland Museum

Why RELICS is an excellent excursion for schools:

RELICS brings together creativity, storytelling, engineering, and problem‑solving in a playful, hands‑on format. It’s an ideal learning experience for:Visual Arts – Explore sculpture, installation, design principles, composition, colour, and creative reuse.STEAM & Engineering – Spark conversations about structure, balance, scale, pattern, and imaginative problem‑solving.English & Creative Writing – Each RELIC invites students to interpret narrative clues, make inferences, and create their own stories.HSIE / HASS – Themes like environment, urban life, sustainability, and community are explored through tiny worlds. These relatable scenes spark conversations about contemporary real‑world issues and help students connect the exhibition themes to the world around them.Critical & Creative Thinking – Students engage in observation, analysis, wonder, question‑asking, and inventing new possibilities.Teamwork & Collaboration – LEGO® naturally supports group thinking, shared decision‑making, and playful learning.Whether your students love art, design, building, storytelling, or simply the joy of creating, RELICS meets them where they are — and encourages them to imagine beyond the boundaries of the everyday.

School and group visits can include:

A guided exhibition introduction tailored to age level

Time for close looking, sketching, photography and video, and discussion

Scavenger hunts for every student

Optional hands‑on creative activities or LEGO® challenges (subject to availability)

Accessible, inclusive gallery spaces designed for all learners

Suitable for:

Primary (K–6)

Secondary (7–12)

Early childhood groups

Homeschool groups

Vacation care and out‑of‑school programs

Community education groups

Special needs education groups

Alternative education programs

Youth support services

Youth clubs or activity groups

Bookings:

Bookings are essential for all schools and groups.Bookings for group of 10 or more will receive a 15% discountTo make a booking or discuss how we can tailor your visit, please contact:education@chcc.nsw.gov.au or phone (02) 6648 4700

LEGO® is a trademark of The LEGO Group which does not sponsor, authorise or endorse this exhibition.

Meet the RELICS creators: Jackson Harvey and Alex Towler
2026-03-28 11:30 - 12:30
‘ESSSENSSSE’ Live Performance!

Event, Program

Hear what inspired RELICS: A New World Rises and how this exhibition came to life.

Jackson Harvey and Alex Towler

Event, Program

‘ESSSENSSSE’ Live Performance!
When

22 Jan 202612:00 pm – 12:30 pm

AgesAllCostFree Reserve your spot

RELICS: A New World Rises is an immersive experience that’s equal parts nostalgic and thought-provoking, where vintage objects and LEGO® brick creations tell tales of a possible future. Created by LEGO® Masters winners, Jackson Harvey and Alex Towler, RELICS inspires curiosity for all ages and invites you to explore artistic intricacy and story-telling in an extraordinary way.

Join us for a meet and greet with Alex and Jackson on RELICS opening day and hear about the inspiration for this extraordinary exhibition and how it came to life!

Tickets to RELICS are available separately.

Self-Guided Artmaking
2026-12-31 10:00 - 16:00
Self-Guided Artmaking

Event, Program

Get creative at YAM with free self-guided artmaking activities available in The Workshop!

Event, Program

‘ESSSENSSSE’ Live Performance!
When

22 Jan 202612:00 pm – 12:30 pm

AgesAllCostFree Reserve your spot

Get creative with art making activities inspired by YAM’s exhibitions at The Workshop. Activities range from designing and creating your own textiles, constructing contemporary collages and drawing. Activities are suitable for adults, children, and families so come in, relax, and enjoy making art.
