Artists of all ages and abilities are invited to creatively explore ways we can shape a greener future together. Bring your art (labelled with your name and number) to enter one of the categories below for display. Or come and DO art – bring your supplies, pens, paints, paper, whatever you need to be part of the fun.

Many Hands – Our Sustainable Future

Eg. Green Cities, community gardens, collective action, sustainable food, energy systems, etc.

Nature Connection

Eg. endangered species, ecosystems and habitats, local plants and native animals, etc.

Age Groups

Primary School / Secondary School / Adult

Mediums

Paint, clay, pencil, charcoal, pastel, crayon, collage, ink, recycled materials, digital, woodwork, reclaimed metal, fabric, natural materials – anything you can think of!

Winners of our Art Show announced at approx. 2:20pm on the Main Stage.

Join WildlifeXposure at our interactive display for an unforgettable wildlife experience! Get up close with some of Australia’s most incredible creatures, including our critically endangered Brush-tailed Bettong, Squirrel Gliding Possums, and a majestic Barn Owl. You'll also meet a powerful Saltwater Crocodile, marvel at our dragon and skink lizards, and safely interact with both giant and small non-venomous pythons, turtles, and frogs! Our presenters will introduce you to unique Australian animals and the importance of wildlife conservation. It’s a fantastic opportunity to learn about Australia’s diverse wildlife and the efforts to protect them for future generations. Check the site map for the location.

Unless someone cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.

Year 8 students from Girton Grammar proudly present a live radio play adaptation of The Lorax by Dr Seuss. The Lorax is a well-known cautionary tale of the consequences of greed and what may happen if we don’t work together to plan for a sustainable future. 23 students in an elective subject called Page to Stage worked as a production team to develop the pages of the written script into a recorded radio play and a staged presentation for the audience at the Bendigo Sustainability Festival. The students are excited to have the opportunity to share their passion for using the performing arts to contribute to working towards a more sustainable future for the next generations.

Add a touch of creativity to your festival day with free face painting! From 11 AM to 2 PM, our talented artist, Macy Caddy, will be offering up to ten fun and colourful designs to pick from for all ages. Stop by to get festival-ready with a splash of colour!

Come make Bendigo with Me!

Using recycled materials, collage, cardboard and a lot of glue, come and make a large-scale cardboard sculptures of Bendigo’s Iconic Buildings with me. With lots of colour, pattern and texture, together we will bring the fun to Bendigo’s streets! Create a free-standing cardboard sculpture. Decorate with collage paper. Embellish with markers and tape. Scrunch, tear, cut and glue. Create mini people. Work together to create amazing art.

Free workshop but limited places so book now! Held at Art Tent in front of main stage - check site map.

This is an exclusive 30-minute tour at Larni Garingilang, accommodating up to 30 participants. This tour, with DUMAWUL, leaving at 11am sharp, provides a unique opportunity to explore the six beautiful layers of Dja Dja Wurrung Country and see how Djaara are reintroducing elements of country and culture to create a healthy and happy tomorrow. Meet near the Main Stage 10 minutes before tour time - check site map for meeting location.

A stronger class, combining strength and mobility to support a fluid flow…in body, in heart, in mind. 

Come and join me on the grass at the beautiful Gardens for the Future White Hills; after the session we can have chats and conversations 12:45-1pm.

BYO mat or towel/water. There will be some yoga chairs available for anyone wanting to try the options while seated…all offerings are adaptable to chair yoga, great for those with some mobility limitations. In the Yoga Tent - check the site map for location at festival.

This is an exclusive 30-minute tour at Larni Garingilang, accommodating up to 30 participants. This tour, with DUMAWUL, leaving at 11am sharp, provides a unique opportunity to explore the six beautiful layers of Dja Dja Wurrung Country and see how Djaara are reintroducing elements of country and culture to create a healthy and happy tomorrow. Meet near the Main Stage 10 minutes before tour time - check site map for meeting location.

A gentle stretching class suitable for all. An opportunity to stretch in shapes that support the release of tension and stress.

Come and join me on the grass at the beautiful Gardens for the Future White Hills; after the session we can have chats and conversations 12:45-1pm.

BYO mat or towel/water. There will be some yoga chairs available for anyone wanting to try the options while seated…all offerings are adaptable to chair yoga, great for those with some mobility limitations. In the Yoga Tent - check site map for location.

Come make Bendigo with Me!

Using recycled materials, collage, cardboard and a lot of glue, come and make a large-scale cardboard sculptures of Bendigo’s Iconic Buildings with me. With lots of colour, pattern and texture, together we will bring the fun to Bendigo’s streets! Create a free-standing cardboard sculpture. Decorate with collage paper. Embellish with markers and tape. Scrunch, tear, cut and glue. Create mini people. Work together to create amazing art.

Free workshop but limited places so book now! Held at Art Tent in front of main stage - check site map.

The Bendigo Share and Repair Shed is offering three ‘Upcycled Fashion’ workshops for those interested in taking part in the Bendigo Sustainability Festival’s Upcycled Fashion Parade on the 30th March. The workshops are open to anyone interested in the idea of upcycling clothes and other textiles into a new look rather than throwing them into landfill, but the focus will be on assisting people to create fashion for the parade. Bring your ideas and clothing/textiles and experienced volunteers will help you transform them. Do the workshops prior to the festival or come dressed in something upcycled and find something more upcycled clothes at the Share and Repair Shed stall at the festival. Sign up below to participate. The fashion show will be held 12:45 PM on the Main Stage.

Join Soul Care Healing for Kids for a super fun and inspiring wellbeing concert. Gayle will teach and perform 4 songs from her upcoming collection to help your kids find balance during big emotions. A wonderful event to attend to create long-term sustainable self regulation methods. Gayle is offering mini concerts at 20minutes each at 1pm and 2pm from The Yoga Tent, right next to her stall No.78.

Join Michael Chew at the Connect Tent (near sites 29&30) to contribute your ideas for a genuinely sustainable Bendigo on our giant community map!   Come share your ideas and stories, get inspired by other contributions, and connect to others who also want to create positive local futures. No idea too wild or out there, all ages are welcome to participate. Come to the mini-workshop at 10:45am, or drop by anytime 10:30am-1:30pm.  See project background.

Bendigo Sustainability Festival is excited to have the Old Church Wardrobe facilitate a clothing swap at the Clothes Swap Tent (see site map). Join in the fun and come and renew your wardrobe. To participate, registrations are essential. On the day, you will drop off your clothing to be swapped (no more than 10) by 11am sharp. Jess Marousche, the swap facilitator, will lead a short reflection space at 12noon as an opportunity to share what these clothes have meant to you in the past and then the swap will begin at 12:30pm. There will be changerooms set up and mirrors. Register now at this link below.

The Bendigo Share and Repair Shed is a community based organisation that started as the Bendigo RepairCafe in 2017 and has since grown to include a Tool Library, Useful Bin, Food is Free Table. It includes The Remakery, an eco-conscious boutique stocking handmade items created by local volunteers, utilising upcycled locally sourced materials. The Repair Shed will have a stall at the Festival, so pop in and get involved. Or email for more information.

The Church on the Hill runs Visible Mending Workshops. Visible mending is using the opportunity of a damaged item to give it even more beauty/story than it originally had, especially appropriate in situations where no matter how careful you are the mend is going to be obvious- so why not make it a feature! If you want to bring something or just come along to to the Church on the Hill to get ideas on how to mend clothes you’re very welcome. Visible Mending Kits will be on sale at the Bendigo Sustainability Festival. Email us for more information by clicking the link below.

Literally talks at kitchen tables (Talk Tents 1, 2 & 3 - see site map), come and have a yarn with some of the country’s most inspiring speakers and thinkers: Jimmy Stanton-Cooke from Half Cut, Susan Fayad, coordinating the Victorian Goldfields World Heritage bid, Professor Kate Auty, environmental activist, and many others.

The festival will showcase some incredible electric vehicles from local owners and suppliers keen to share their insights on the value of their vehicles and how they contribute to a greener world. Come and check them out - see site map.

There will be plenty of stallholders at this year’s festival sharing their products and services and information which can help all of us work towards a more sustainable world. If you want to have your own stall, it’s not too late - send us an email by clicking the link below. See full list here.

At the festival, we will be planting a POE-TREE at 2pm (see site map for location), launched and acknowledged by The Hon. Maree Edwards MP.

Poets are invited to submit their poems for consideration to be read at the planting. Poems must be on the broad theme of how it will take many hands to build a sustainable future. The winning poem will receive a $250 voucher for Bunnings. Up to five poems will be selected to be read on the day. Others will go in the running to be published online. Submit your poems by clicking the link below, registering for festival and then sending your poem to festival@bsg.org.au (include your name, your poem and contact number). DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS FRIDAY 14 MARCH.

Hi, I’m Jaxx and we will be making insect hotels from 100% recycled and natural materials.  An insect hotel gives native bees, wasps and beetles a safe spot to live while encouraging them into our gardens to pollinate our flowers and vegetable plants. It is a win win situation, let’s go. At Jaxx’s Insect Hotel Tent - check site map for location.

Join Bella the Bookworm on an enchanting journey through stories, songs, and hands-on activities that spark curiosity and inspire young minds to care for the planet. This interactive and fun-filled storytime introduces children to themes of sustainability, environmental stewardship, and nature appreciation.

Together, we’ll dive into captivating eco-tales about animals, trees, and the wonders of nature, wiggle and giggle to catchy Earth-friendly songs, and get our hands dirty with fun activities.

Limited places, register now. At Bella’s Storytime Tent - check site map for location.

River Detectives is just one way youth can engage with the North Central CMA. We’ll be at the festival showcasing our free, fun and flexible environmental education program with water quality testing and waterbug sampling stations and much more. At the North Central CMA stall - check site map for location.

Hi, I’m Jaxx and we will be making insect hotels from 100% recycled and natural materials.  An insect hotel gives native bees, wasps and beetles a safe spot to live while encouraging them into our gardens to pollinate our flowers and vegetable plants. It is a win win situation, let’s go. At Jaxx’s Insect Hotel Tent - check site map for location.

At Sustainability Victoria’s Stall - 42/43 (see Site Map) at 11:30am, join ResourceSmart Schools Facilitator, Emily, to learn more about worm farms and the role they play in transitioning to a circular economy, reducing food waste and producing a useful and valuable end product. Get up close and personal with some worms, learn about the different types of worm farms, and some ways you can use ‘objects on hand’ to create your own worm farm. ResourceSmart Schools is provided as a free sustainability education program, for all Victorian schools, by Sustainability Victoria.

At Sustainability Victoria’s Stall - 42/43 (see Site Map) at 1pm, join Sustainability Victoria for a dive into the world of circular economy – the theory, the case studies and the first steps to getting started on your own circular journey. This workshop with include an introduction to circular economy and how it can be applied at a household, community or business context, followed by a chance to put this theory into practice. Participants will be guided through applying a circular approach to an initiative of their own and introduced to some of Sustainability Victoria’s resources to help them take their ideas to the next step.

At Zero Plastics Australia’s stall - 89 (see Site Map) at 11:45am, join Adam Slater, Founder of Zero Plastics Australia, for his FREE talk: “From waste to wonder - Turning milk lids into brand new practical products the story behind Zero Plastics Australia. Ever wondered what happens to your single use plastic lids? Well hear the story of how a heart attack and a visit with a turtle started this micro recycling journey and how after 4 years how we have now recycled over 3,800,000 lids, educated over 7000 students and have over 200 different designs all made from what do many people call waste."

At their stall - site 40 (see site map) at 1:45pm, Michael Hoffman from Mackillop Family Services will share their vision and mission, a free talk: “10,000 young people at any point in Victoria, including in Central Victoria, live away from their families for (child) safety reasons. We need to help. Mackillop Family Services is inspired by one of our founders Saint Mary Mackillop whose guiding ethos of social justice was to ‘Never see a need without doing something about it’. We do all we can to find local carers so we can keep children while in care, living and thriving in, and contributing in positive ways to, their own community. We invite you to join our journey.”

House running hot and cold?  Want to get off Gas?  Bills through the roof?  Tired of high energy bills? Want to make your home more comfortable and energy-efficient? Enter the ENFORT giveaway for a chance to win a comprehensive Home Energy and Draught Detection Audit VALUED AT $650! We will evaluate your home's energy usage and comfort levels and identify any draughts, helping you save money and reduce your carbon footprint. Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to enhance your home's performance. Enter now and take the first step towards a greener, more sustainable living environment! Come and have a chat with Jarrod at the ENFORT Stall - see site map.

In an emergency, what is your plan? Talk with City staff to learn more about local emergency risks and the simple and practical steps you can take to protect yourself, the people you love and the things you value the most. Grab an emergency ‘go bag’ and some resources that will help you prepare for an emergency. Come visit the City of Greater Bendigo Stall (see site map).

Learn about Bendigo’s native plants and animals with the City’s Biodiversity Officers. Come along to see the interactive displays of bugs, birds, frogs and nocturnal creatures and discover the many ways to look after our natural environment. Come visit the City of Greater Bendigo Stall (see site map).

Come and see the Climate Action Team at the Sustainability Festival to discuss home energy efficiency. Find out information on how to make your home more energy efficient to suit any budget, different home energy finance options that are available, and resources to provide you with more information. Also find out more about our new Home Energy Empowerment Program and the Beat the Power Bills Business Program. Come visit the City of Greater Bendigo stall (see site map).

Cadence is a musical duo from Bendigo comprising of cousins Tahlia on vocals and George on bass guitar.

Singer/songwriter and guitarist Kalo Davis quotes artists and bands such as Ed Sheeran, Lizzy McAlpine, Trousdale, Tiny Habits, Lawrence, and Lake Street Dive as being influential to his sound. “For as long as I can remember I’ve always loved to sing, but it took me ages to become confident singing in front of people, let alone a crowd! I embraced the nerves. I asked questions, reached out to people, and amazing opportunities started coming up. I lost my fear to just give it a go.”

Hailing from small town Heathcote and a darling of the thriving Bendigo music scene, Folk artist Mariah McCarthy is one of Central Victoria’s most prized possessions. With delicately woven songs rich in storytelling, The Mariah McCarthy Trio captivates its audiences through honest and affecting tales that hang around in your head long after listening.

Sherri Parry, born and bred in regional Victoria, has been writing, releasing and performing in Central VIC since 2013. She opened for Australian music royalty John Butler in 2019 at the Bendigo Blues and Roots Music Festival at Ulumburra Theatre, three months before releasing her full-length album 'Leave The Flowers' in February 2020. Swiflty becoming the next big thing, Sherri joins us on the main stage at the Bendigo Sustainability Festival to share a message of hope for a better world.

Harry and Molly are WA born and breed and have grown up surrounded by music. Harry is a self taught guitarist from the age of 10 with Molly always singing her heart out right by his side. This brother sister duo have been performing in and around Bendigo and surrounds for the last 3 years, with their main genre being country music but not limited to. 

Ryan McPartlane is a 16 year old singer/songwriter from Bendigo, lead singer of the band The Funkle. Definitely on the rise. Look out for them.