Yarrila Arts and Museum

The Poetics of Clay: An Artist Talk with Phil Greed
2025-10-30 10:30 - 11:30 (Australia/Sydney)
The Poetics of Clay: An Artist Talk with Phil Greed

Exhibition

Join award-winning artist Phil Greed for an inspiring talk at Yarrila Arts and Museum, celebrating his Coffs Coast Artist Award win in STILL 2025.

Phil Greed, calx_what goes around (2025) Image courtesy of the artist

Exhibition

Deborah Kelly
CREATION

When

22 Nov 2025 – 15 Mar 2026

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitCREATION Performance

Join award winning artist Phil Greed for an inspiring artist talk at Yarrila Arts and Museum. Phil Greed was the winner of the $5000 Coffs Coast Artist Award in STILL: National Still Life Award 2025 presented by Yarrila Arts and Museum.

Phil’s winning work calx_what goes around (2025), explores memory, loss and the quiet transformation of materials. Drawing on the poetic intimacy of still life, he uses ceramics to reflect on aging, personal history, and the fragile beauty of time.

Don’t miss this chance to hear Phil share his stories, processes and inspirations behind his practice, and to celebrate the creativity and talent flourishing on the Coffs Coast.

Complimentary morning tea will be provided.

In Conversation: Carbon Footprints
2025-10-31 12:30 - 13:30
In Conversation: Carbon Footprints – Energy, Language and Connection

Exhibition

Join us for a thought provoking conversation with Yarrila Arts and Museum exhibiting artist Alexandra Byrne, senior Gumbaynggirr man and educator Uncle Micklo Jarrett, and Gumbaynggirr PhD candidate Dylan Berger as they explore the many meanings of a carbon footprint, from the energy we consume and return to the earth, to the cultural and linguistic footprints we leave on Country.

Exhibition

Deborah Kelly
CREATION

When

22 Nov 2025 – 15 Mar 2026

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitCREATION Performance

Join us for a thought provoking conversation with Yarrila Arts and Museum exhibiting artist Alexandra Byrne, senior Gumbaynggirr man and educator Uncle Micklo Jarrett, and Gumbaynggirr PhD candidate Dylan Berger as they explore the many meanings of a carbon footprint, from the energy we consume and return to the earth, to the cultural and linguistic footprints we leave on Country.

Together they will discuss how art, language and land are connected through cycles of care, knowledge and energy. This rich dialogue invites us to reflect on how we live within our environment and how we can walk more gently into the future.

The Workshop, Yarrila Arts and Museum – ground floor Yarrila Place.

Free event but bookings recommended.

Panel Speakers:

Alexandra Byrne is an artist living in rural Nambucca Valley. Her exhibition Natural Capital: Carbon Webs, Energy and Me (Us) explores personal accountability in the context of climate change, rural life and land management. Alexandra considers these issues with respect to both the energy we consume and the energy we put back into these living systems.

Micklo Jarrett is a senior Gumbaynggirr man and educator. Micklo brings a wealth of knowledge about how we can develop our connections to place through language and caring for Country in order to leave it in a better condition.

Dylan Berger is a Gumbaynggirr, Dhanggati, Yuin, and Birrbay man and PhD Candidate. Dylan’s area of research focuses on the role of language for Country.

Still Life, Still Moving - Drawing Workshop with Peggy Zephyr
2025-11-01 10:30 - 12:30
Still Life, Still Moving – Drawing Workshop with Peggy Zephyr

Exhibition

Join STILL: National Still Life Award 2025 finalist, Peggy Zephyr and turn the ordinary into extraordinary with this playful drawing workshop where chance takes the lead. Participants will be presented with everyday objects, and a roll of the dice decides how it will be transformed. With each throw, new instructions shift the way you draw or even how the object is placed, hidden, or merged with another.

Exhibition

Deborah Kelly
CREATION

When

22 Nov 2025 – 15 Mar 2026

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitCREATION Performance

Join STILL: National Still Life Award 2025 finalist, Peggy Zephyr and turn the ordinary into extraordinary with this playful drawing workshop where chance takes the lead. Participants will be presented with everyday objects, and a roll of the dice decides how it will be transformed. With each throw, new instructions shift the way you draw or even how the object is placed, hidden, or merged with another.

As the session unfolds, familiar items become strange, humorous, or poetic. Sketches overlap, change direction, and accumulate into layered pages that record different perspectives in real time. The result is a lively, low-stakes experiment that reimagines the still life tradition showing how the everyday is never really still, but always in motion.

All materials are provided.

Recommended for adult (16+)

No previous drawing experience required.

Cost: Free

Location: The Workshop, Yarrila Arts and Museum

Booking essential as numbers are very limited.

Yearbook '25
2025-11-15 00:00 - 2026-02-08 23:59
Deborah Kelly
CREATION

Exhibition

CREATION is a multi-dimensional and cross-disciplinary artwork developed by contemporary artist Deborah Kelly. Born from collaboration with communities across Australia, it invites you to explore a queer, climate-conscious belief system that celebrates possibility, and collective dreaming.

Are you ready yet? Josie Boxell, Pencil on paper 2025

Exhibition

Deborah Kelly
CREATION

When

22 Nov 2025 – 15 Mar 2026

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitCREATION Performance

Yearbook ’25: Visual Art Students from the Coffs Coast showcases a curated selection of outstanding HSC Visual Arts Bodies of Work from talented students across the region. The exhibition celebrates a diverse range of expressive forms and offers unique insights into the ideas and perspectives of young people on the Coffs Coast.

Participating Schools: Bishop Druitt College | Bowraville Central School | Coffs Harbour Christian Community School | Coffs Harbour High School | Coffs Harbour Senior College | St John Paul College | Macksville High School | Nambucca High School | Orara High School | Toormina High School | Woolgoolga High School

Figure Drawing – Untutored Monthly Studio Sessions
2025-11-16 10:30 - 13:30, 2025-12-14 10:30 - 13:30
Figure Drawing – Untutored Monthly Studio Sessions

Exhibition

Join artist Seabastion Toast for a relaxed and inspiring monthly life drawing session

Exhibition

Deborah Kelly
CREATION

When

22 Nov 2025 – 15 Mar 2026

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitCREATION Performance

Practice. Explore. Refine.

Join artist Seabastion Toast for a relaxed and inspiring monthly life drawing session at Yarrila Arts and Museum. Held one Sunday each month, these three-hour sessions offer artists of all experience levels a chance to slow down, focus deeply, and connect with the figure through longer, sustained poses with a clothed model.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to push your creative boundaries, this is a unique opportunity to:

Sharpen your observation skillsRefine your technique in your chosen mediumExplore more layered, detailed works over timeWork at your own pace in a calm, welcoming space. While there’s no formal instruction, Seabastion will be drawing and painting alongside participants – offering a behind-the-scenes look at her personal process and approach to figurative art.

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

Sessions are ticketed individually and run once a month. Each is a fresh opportunity to connect with your practice and the local arts community.

Duration: 3 hours (with regular short breaks)

Refreshments: Hot water and cups available. Participants are welcome to bring their own refreshments.

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 ToastEquipment: Easels, stool. Chair. clips and boards provided

Exhibition Opening CREATION and 'ESSSENSSSE'
2025-11-22 00:00 - 23:59
Exhibition Opening CREATION and ‘ESSSENSSSE’

Exhibition

DJ Jemka spinning live beats from 5pm, light nibbles to enjoy, YAM Bar serving gin cocktails by Emerald Island Distillery. Free entry – not to be missed!

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

Exhibition

Deborah Kelly
CREATION

When

22 Nov 2025 – 15 Mar 2026

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitCREATION Performance

Yarrila Arts and Museum invites you and your guests to the opening of CREATION and ‘ESSSENSSSE ‘

Saturday 22 November 5:00 – 7:00pm

Official proceedings from 5:30pmLive Music from DJ JemkaLight nibbles providedYAM Bar open with gin cocktails by Emerald Island DistilleryFree entry!

EXHIBITION DETAILS

Deborah Kelly I CREATION22 November 2025 – 15 March 2026CREATION 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.

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.

ESSSENSSSE
2025-11-22 00:00 - 2026-02-01 23:59
Deborah Kelly
CREATION

Exhibition

CREATION is a multi-dimensional and cross-disciplinary artwork developed by contemporary artist Deborah Kelly. Born from collaboration with communities across Australia, it invites you to explore a queer, climate-conscious belief system that celebrates possibility, and collective dreaming.

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

Exhibition

Deborah Kelly
CREATION

When

22 Nov 2025 – 15 Mar 2026

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitCREATION Performance

UPDATE for Thursday 22 January 2026 – we’re experiencing an error with our booking system. If you get a message that tickets for YAM Up Late or the 12:00pm ESSSENSSSE Live Performance are sold out please disregard and join us for the events – we won’t be checking tickets. We look forward to seeing you at the events!

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.For blind and low vision audiences, the exhibition includes audio descriptions that vividly describe each costume’s character. Braille QR codes are available throughout the space to help one navigate and connect with the exhibition in their own way.ESSSENSSSE began when HOSSEI became fascinated by the sand dollar sea creatures— their shape, features, and how in mediaeval times it was truly believed that sand dollars were mermaid currency. When looking at the sand dollar, HOSSEI realised that if you were to remove the physical characteristics of a human body, you would be left with a mouth and an anus, just like the sand dollar. It is this idea that compelled HOSSEI to make the sand dollar an emblem of the show. An entry point and an exit, not just with food, but in the sense of discerning which energies come through and nourish the insides, and which are let out. ESSSENSSSE is about letting go and being one with the spirit and embracing its purity and vulnerability.HOSSEI is a multidisciplinary Australian artist with Persian, Turkish and Russian ancestry, exhibiting work across Western Sydney and beyond for more than twenty years. HOSSEI’s practice is influenced by his 7 years as Student Learning Service Officer (SLSO), supporting students with a range of abilities and backgrounds at Newtown Public School (NPS).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.

Audio Descriptions

Audio descriptions for the blind and low-vision community have been developed for ESSSENSSSE by Sarah Empey and Anthia Balis, in collaboration with HOSSEI. These can be accessed via a QR code located at YAM reception and in the gallery archway. YAM encourages patrons to bring their own headphones.

ESSSENSSSE Audio Descriptions

CREATION
2025-11-22 00:00 - 2026-03-15 23:59
Deborah Kelly
CREATION

Exhibition

CREATION is a multi-dimensional and cross-disciplinary artwork developed by contemporary artist Deborah Kelly. Born from collaboration with communities across Australia, it invites you to explore a queer, climate-conscious belief system that celebrates possibility, and collective dreaming.

Deborah Kelly, from the CREATION collage suite, 2019-ongoing, image courtesy of the artist.

Exhibition

Deborah Kelly
CREATION

When

22 Nov 2025 – 15 Mar 2026

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitCREATION Performance

CREATION is a multi-dimensional and cross-disciplinary artwork developed by contemporary artist Deborah Kelly. Born from collaboration with communities across Australia, it invites you to explore a queer, climate-conscious belief system that celebrates possibility, and collective dreaming.Through video, animation, photography, music, paper collage, costume, textiles, ceramics and dance, CREATION moves fluidly across contemporary art, politics, and ritual to consider and critique contemporary issues of our time and inspire people to gather, commune, and imagine new ways of being in a more-than-human world.CREATION is not just an exhibition; it is a living, breathing mythology.

The Holy Orders are companion beings who represent CREATION’s virtues and powers;

The Serpent: The Supreme Originator, teaches us to move with certainty, and to dream.

The Moon: Rhythm, loyalty and companionship.

The Rat: teaches us resilience, resourcefulness, and to find our kin among the scorned.

Fungus: represents interdependence and reciprocity.

Infinity: symbolises the eternal exchange of energy.

Bacteria: from which we learn that size does not equate to power.

Vulture: teaches us not to fear the ruins of the past.

Spider: The vision weaver; teaches us that storytelling is survival.SPECIAL EVENT: A special CREATION performance involving dance, costumes, song and spectacle will be held on Saturday 14 March from 5:30pm. Join YAM’s mailing list to stay up to date with event details.

The performance will feature the CREATION CHORALE singing joyous original music.

CREATION is supported by the Australian Government through Creative Australia.

Self-Guided Tactile Tours
2025-12-03 00:00 - 2026-07-01 23:59
Self-Guided Tactile Tours

Exhibition

Have you ever wanted to know what an artwork feels like?

Exhibition

Deborah Kelly
CREATION

When

22 Nov 2025 – 15 Mar 2026

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitCREATION Performance

Visit the current exhibitions at YAM and borrow a free Self-Guided Tactile Tour kit from our front desk, then head to the galleries for a unique experience. Each kit will enable participants to experience the tactile and sensory qualities of the materials used in selected textile artworks. Self-Guided Tactile Tour kits are available for the current exhibition ESSSENSSSE.

This free program is available for all ages and abilities including families, individuals, groups, and sensory impaired individuals.

No bookings required but reservations can be made for groups if requested via email: yamprograms@chcc.nsw.gov.au

Kids Art Trail: Explore, Imagine, Create
2025-12-19 00:00 - 2026-02-02 23:59
Kids Art Trail: Explore, Imagine, Create

Exhibition

Step into a world of colour, curiosity and creativity with the Kids Art Trail!

Photo courtesy of And the Trees Photography

Exhibition

Deborah Kelly
CREATION

When

22 Nov 2025 – 15 Mar 2026

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitCREATION Performance

Step into a world of colour, curiosity and creativity with the Kids Art Trail! This interactive journey invites children to explore artworks, each sparking imagination and inspiring personal expression. As they move through the trail, kids are encouraged to respond with their own creativity. It’s a playful and engaging way to connect with art, discover new ideas, and celebrate the joy of making.

Head to YAM to collect the Kids Art Trail, clip board and pencil.

Wellbeing Workshop Program for organisations, community groups, and schools
2026-01-01 10:00 - 2026-12-31 16:00
Wellbeing Workshop Program for organisations, community groups, and schools

Exhibition

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

Exhibition

Deborah Kelly
CREATION

When

22 Nov 2025 – 15 Mar 2026

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitCREATION Performance

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

Exhibition

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.

Exhibition

Deborah Kelly
CREATION

When

22 Nov 2025 – 15 Mar 2026

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitCREATION Performance

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

Exhibition

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

Exhibition

Deborah Kelly
CREATION

When

22 Nov 2025 – 15 Mar 2026

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitCREATION Performance

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

Exhibition

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

Image: Coral structure courtesy of Adrienne Gooden

Exhibition

Deborah Kelly
CREATION

When

22 Nov 2025 – 15 Mar 2026

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitCREATION Performance

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!

Exhibition

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

Photo courtesy of And the Trees Photography

Exhibition

Deborah Kelly
CREATION

When

22 Nov 2025 – 15 Mar 2026

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitCREATION Performance

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

Exhibition

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

Exhibition

Deborah Kelly
CREATION

When

22 Nov 2025 – 15 Mar 2026

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitCREATION Performance

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

Exhibition

Step into an unforgettable night at YAM Up Late!

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

Exhibition

Deborah Kelly
CREATION

When

22 Nov 2025 – 15 Mar 2026

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitCREATION Performance

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

Exhibition

CREATION is a multi-dimensional and cross-disciplinary artwork developed by contemporary artist Deborah Kelly. Born from collaboration with communities across Australia, it invites you to explore a queer, climate-conscious belief system that celebrates possibility, and collective dreaming.

Exhibition

Deborah Kelly
CREATION

When

22 Nov 2025 – 15 Mar 2026

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitCREATION Performance

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

Exhibition

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

Exhibition

Deborah Kelly
CREATION

When

22 Nov 2025 – 15 Mar 2026

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitCREATION Performance

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
Deborah Kelly
CREATION

Exhibition

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.

Exhibition

Deborah Kelly
CREATION

When

22 Nov 2025 – 15 Mar 2026

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitCREATION Performance

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
Deborah Kelly
CREATION

Exhibition

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)

Exhibition

Deborah Kelly
CREATION

When

22 Nov 2025 – 15 Mar 2026

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitCREATION Performance

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+)

Exhibition

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

Image: Self portrait collage by AlyKat

Exhibition

Deborah Kelly
CREATION

When

22 Nov 2025 – 15 Mar 2026

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitCREATION Performance

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
Deborah Kelly
CREATION

Exhibition

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

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

Exhibition

Deborah Kelly
CREATION

When

22 Nov 2025 – 15 Mar 2026

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitCREATION Performance

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
Long Pose Portrait Sessions

Exhibition

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

Exhibition

Deborah Kelly
CREATION

When

22 Nov 2025 – 15 Mar 2026

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitCREATION Performance

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
Deborah Kelly
CREATION

Exhibition

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

Exhibition

Deborah Kelly
CREATION

When

22 Nov 2025 – 15 Mar 2026

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitCREATION Performance

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
Deborah Kelly
CREATION

Exhibition

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

Exhibition

Deborah Kelly
CREATION

When

22 Nov 2025 – 15 Mar 2026

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitCREATION Performance

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
Deborah Kelly
CREATION

Exhibition

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.

Exhibition

Deborah Kelly
CREATION

When

22 Nov 2025 – 15 Mar 2026

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitCREATION Performance

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

Exhibition

Step into a living contemporary art ceremony at YAM.

Photo by Lucy Parakhina

Exhibition

Deborah Kelly
CREATION

When

22 Nov 2025 – 15 Mar 2026

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitCREATION Performance

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
Deborah Kelly
CREATION

Exhibition

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)

Exhibition

Deborah Kelly
CREATION

When

22 Nov 2025 – 15 Mar 2026

AdmissionFree entry Plan your visitCREATION Performance

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.
