Street art

The #WeRYou project was an inclusive and participatory street art initiative designed to harness the power of community, art and storytelling to shift perceptions and build a sense of belonging among Ballarat residents.

Over six months in 2013, I facilitated a series of large-format paste-up installations, transforming graffiti hotspots into vibrant, community-driven art spaces. These black-and-white portraits, glued directly onto walls, featured hundreds of Ballarat residents and were displayed across more than nine locations.

Through street photography workshops and collaborative mural-making, we engaged diverse community groups—including Afghani, African, and Indigenous teenagers—empowering them to share their stories through art.

One of the most memorable participants was Sadiqi M., a secondary school student at Phoenix P-12 Community College. Originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sadiqi and his family had been calling Ballarat home for three years. Seeing his own face displayed across the city was a transformative experience for him.

“You just walk around and people say, ‘Have I seen you somewhere?’ and you’re like, ‘Probably on the big posters.’ It’s pretty awesome.” – Sadiqi M.

This project was not just about public art—it was about representation, identity and creating a sense of community in Ballarat’s evolving cultural landscape.

ABC Radio Ballarat Lily Partland speaking with participants – listen to the interview:

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