Beyond Borders Art Exhibition 2026

SSI acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work. 

Join us for an inspiring art exhibition: celebrating refugee artists 

We invite you to a special art exhibition celebrating the transformative power of art and self-expression.  SSI’s Creative Compass program is proud to showcase the work of 22 newly arrived visual artists from refugee backgrounds. 

Come along for a special morning tea launch on Friday, October 30, 2026 to celebrate these talented artists. You’ll hear inspiring speeches, including personal stories behind the artwork, and enjoy a live performance by a newcomer musician. 

This is a unique opportunity to support these artists as they build their profiles, share their journeys, and offer their work for sale. Your presence will help foster their success and contribute to their wellbeing. 

• Date: Friday, October 30, 2026 

• Time: 9:45 am arrival for 10:00 am– 12:30pm 

• Location: ILUMINA, Level 3, 1 Elizabeth St, Sydney NSW 2000 

• RSVP: By Friday, October 23, 2026 

A pop-up gallery will be open on the ground floor of 1 Elizabeth St from Sunday, November 1 to Friday, November 6, 2026, from 10am – 3pm. 

The exhibition will feature work from diverse artists originally from Afghanistan, Syria, Ukraine, Congo, Burma, Palestine, Pakistan and Iraq. 

Donations will be eligible for matching from the Macquarie Group Foundation according to its Non-Profit Support Policy. Please note, art acquisitions are not considered donations. 

For any questions, please email our team at creativecompass@ssi.org.au  

We look forward to celebrating art, culture and human connections with you.