Join us 3pm – 5pm on Saturday 10 October at Civic Art Bureau for the opening of THIRTY by Hands On Studio.

About the Exhibition

This exhibition is a part of the 30th anniversary of Hands On Studio, celebrating three decades of artistic practice, community engagement and cultural contribution by artists with disability. Presented at the Civic Art Bureau in Canberra, the exhibition provides an opportunity to consider the development of Hands On Studio and its significance within the broader context of disability arts and contemporary creative practice.

Drawing on the studio’s extensive history, the exhibition brings together still and moving images, artworks, archival material and other forms of documentation to examine the people, practices, relationships and experiences that have shaped Hands On Studio over the past 30 years. Collectively, these materials provide insight into the evolution of the studio, while foregrounding the diverse artistic voices and perspectives of its artists.

The exhibition considers the archive not simply as a record of the past, but as a means of understanding the ongoing cultural and social significance of disability-led and disability-inclusive arts practice. Through documentation of artistic processes, exhibitions, collaborations and community activities, the exhibition traces the ways in which Hands On Studio has contributed to the visibility, recognition and development of artists with disability.

As part of Hands On Studio’s 30th anniversary birthday celebrations, the exhibition acknowledges the studio’s history while also reflecting on its continuing role as a site of creative expression, artistic development, connection and belonging. It invites audiences to engage with the breadth of the studio’s 30-year history and to consider the contribution of disability arts to Canberra’s cultural landscape.