Project Alchemy – Rebus Theatre

A community arts and cultural development project offering employment for regional artists to lead community engagement arts projects.

September 2022-March 2024

What is PROJECT ALCHEMY? The devastation left by the 2019/20 bushfires to the natural and built environment was horrific. There was a profound impact on every individual and community. Everyone’s experience was different, as is everyone’s path to recovery.

Project Alchemy, led by the award-winning Canberra-based company Rebus Theatre, enabled practising artists from regions directly impacted by the Black Summer Bushfires to come together in two artist retreats to share skills, rebuild their practice and return to their own communities to lead community projects employing the arts to help repair, reconnect and celebrate their community.

The project aimed to foster sustainable practices for artists through networking, mentorship and skill sharing. A ‘train the trainer model’, supported artists as they return to their bushfire-impacted areas to lead a cultural development project for their community.

The project used the artistic skills of practising artists across the Eurobodalla, Bega Valley, East Gippsland, and Queanbeyan-Palerang shires and the ACT, to impart a unique recovery program for each area.

Meet our project alchemy artists here.

Project Alchemy is made possible thanks to funding from the Australian Government for the Black Summer Bushfire Grant Program.

Rebus is also supported by Ainslie and Gorman Arts Centres and the ACT Government.

Take a peek inside the final exhibition of Project Alchemy

Meet Our Project Alchemy Artists

Ongoing Project Alchemy Events

Bega Valley Shire – and the world!

Nye On The River Of Life – The Video

A new resource to help explaining what happens in the brain with Trauma

Past Project Alchemy Events

A Woman in a costume made of moss stares at a child through a magnifying glass.

ART, DANCE & YOGA Kids & Teens School Holiday Workshops (Eurobodalla Shire) Wednesday 17th April 2024

An image of words with colourful backgrounds. Creative Kids & Teens School Holiday Workshops. Dance, Art, Yoga

Mallacoota All Weather Singers – Weekly sessions where all are welcome to sing and play at the Mudbrick Pavilion Mallacoota (East Gippsland) Thursdays 5:30-7:00pm

A yellow circle on a white background. The words 'Mallacoota All Weather Singers' are written in pink in the centre of the circle. A Pink image of a guitar covers the bottom part of the circle. The words 'Mudbrick Pavilion Thursdays 5:30-7 are written in pink below on the white background.

Mica Mahani’s Forest Spectacular – Step into the enchanting world of experimental community performance celebrating the love of native forests. (Bega Valley Shire) Sunday, 24th March 10:30am

And image of kids playing in the forest with Koalas photoshopped in nearby

Poetry, Arts & Literature – Immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage of the Middle East, guided by Hangama Obaidullah (ACT) Saturday, 9th March 11am-3pm

‘Movement Jam’ Thursdays and Sundays 4:30-6:30pm from Nov19 to Dec 17 at Batemans Bay Foreshore on the grass opposite Headspace (Eurobodalla Shire)

HIDDEN SONICS
Interactive performance/workshops
Jan 17-20 Braidwood, Majors Creek, Araluen and Tarago (QPRC)

A hand is extended holding a microphone on a yellow background. The arm holding the microphone is covered a yellow woollen sweater

RADICAL HOPE IN THE GARDEN
An arty-farty-garden-party that brings together artists from Project Alchemy to share creative practices and re-imagine the future we need by playing with art, nature and community. November 12th from 11am at Navigate Arts (Bega Valley Shire)

An image of two women in a rich green garden wearing colourful vintage clothing holding each holding one of their arms up to join within a cartoon orb of light

‘NYE ON THE RIVER OF LIFE’ Book Launch. Sue Norman launches a new resource to help explain what happens in the brain with trauma. November 12th at 1pm at Navigate Arts as part of ‘Radical Hope in the Garden’ (Bega Valley Shire)

Two women look at the camera, one with short grey hair wearing a red shirt and the other with shoulder length blonde/grey hair wearing a green shirt

‘Nature Stories’ 1 day exhibition Saturday November 11th from 10am-4pm at Cobargo School of Arts Supper Room. This exhibition will showcase works by the participants of Robyn Williams workshop series exploring our connection with nature through Drawing, Mono- Printing, Eco-dying and Water Colours. (Bega Valley Shire)

Monthly ‘Wonder Walks’ with Cecile Galiazzo
in Braidwood and Shoalhaven (QPRC)

a forrest of tree trunks in various stages of recovery from bushfire

Mallacoota MCO Playbook November 4 – A series of workshops and performances with a quartet from the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra (East Gippsland)

group of men and women of all ages pose for the camer with various instruments in their hands in front of a giant woven scuplture

‘Outside The Square #2’ Exhibition @ The Hive Queanbeyan 13-28 October 2023 (QPRC)

Image of a sculpture made from rusted iron

Braidwood ‘Wonder Walks’ with Cecile Galiazzo 10am Saturday 28th October – Dog-Leg Farm, Bombay (QPRC)

‘Nature Stories’ a program of workshops from August to October in Cobargo with Robyn Williams exploring our connection with nature using various mark making techniques and design principles through Drawing, Mono- Printing, Eco-dying and Water Colours. SOLD OUT (Bega Valley Shire)

Patterns painted in red brown and yellow on a grey piece of wood

‘Outside The Square #2’ Exhibition opening Friday 13 October 6-8pm @ The Hive Queanbeyan. Exhibition runs 13-28 October 2023 (QPRC)

An image of sculpture of a platypus made from recycled wood

‘Breathing Space Open Studio’ – a chance to chat to artist Michele Grimston about her ‘Breathing Space: Artist Residency’ and find out what she’s been up to and view some of the residency works at the Taylor Hive (ACT) Thursday 12 October, 3-5pm

A collection of textile objects in earthy and white colours

‘Emotional Repair Café’ – a full day creative experience that invites you to take some time and space out of the chaos of daily life as part of Michele Grimston’s ‘Breathing Space: Artist Residency’ at the Taylor Hive (ACT) Saturday 10 October, 10am-5pm

Community drumming and guitar workshops in Batemans Bay and Narooma with The Val Moogz School of Joy Sep 19-Oct 10 (Eurobodalla Shire).

A person with short cropped hair in a blue and white shirt plays guitar with a drum set at their feet in front a of window through which you can see a clear blue sky.

‘Dream Space (VI)’ – a series workshops to connect with your personal creative process as part of Michele Grimston’s ‘Breathing Space: Artist Residency’ at the Taylor Hive (ACT) from Sep 27-Oct 14

A room of people sitting at tables doing crafts together

BREATHING SPACE: ARTIST RESIDENCY
From 26 September to 14 October, Project Alchemy artist Michele Grimston will be in residence at the Taylor Hive. (ACT)

‘Tree Portraits’ Chromatogram workshop with Sammy Hawker at Ainslie & Gorman Arts Centre Open Day Saturday 23rd September 10am & 1pm (SOLD OUT) – Gorman Arts Centre (ACT)

A Chromatogram Artwork of patterns in earthy browns and yellows

‘Walnut Alchemy with Hangama Obaidullah’ art workshop at Ainslie & Gorman Arts Centre Open Day Saturday 23rd September 1:30pm – West Courtyard, Gorman Arts Centre (ACT)

‘Plastic Fantastic’ at River of Art Festival’s ‘Luminous: Celebrating Place’ Saturday 23rd September – Moruya Showground (Eurobodalla Shire)

Two women wear dresses crqated out of plastic lit up with fairy lights as they dance

‘patch/work’ at River of Art Festival’s ‘Luminous: Celebrating Place’ Saturday 23rd September – Moruya Showground (Eurobodalla Shire)

A series of short stories about 'repair' written on recycled paper

‘Movement Jam’ at River of Art Festival’s ‘Luminous: Celebrating Place’ Saturday 23rd September – Moruya Showground (Eurobodalla Shire)

Free ‘Outside The Square’ workshop making art from recycled materials Saturday September 16 from 10am-4pm (QPRC)

Braidwood ‘Wonder Walks’ with Cecile Galiazzo 10am Saturday 16th September – Shoalhaven Gorge, Windellima (QPRC)

Brown rock formations and lush Green trees and bushes surround the banks of a River

A project to create a roving arts performance inspired by the Bogong Moth at the East Gippsland Winter Festival’s Lakes Lights Event (East Gippsland)

Four Young Women in Moth Costumes stand in dance poses with a big blue moon sculpture in the background

Princesses of Planting – A chance to dress up as super hero, save the planet, and learn some super hero dances while you’re at it!
Near Canberra June 18 (ACT)

A group of people in various cosplay outfirs stand with their arms raised in the forest. The word 'Princesses of Planting' are written in white in a rainbow shape on a rainbow image imposed over the photo

Braidwood ‘Wonder Walks’ with Cecile Galiazzo
10am -5pm Currajuggle June 17 (QPRC)

‘The Giants’ film screening of the story of Bob Brown accompanied by an art exhibition opening. Queanbeyan June 3 (QPRC)

A landscape of forests into the horizon with an image of a man with great thinning hair looking off to the left thoughtfully. The text' The Giants' written in large white font

Princesses of Planting – A chance to dress up as super hero, save the planet, and learn some super hero dances while you’re at it!
Bega June 10 (Bega Valley Shire)

A group of people in various cosplay outfirs stand with their arms raised in the forest.

SOLD OUT: Move, Draw, Sing, Restore – Experience quiet, reflective art-based practices such as dance, song, visualisation, drawing and deep relaxation in this full day workshop.
Batemans Bay May 25 (Eurobodalla Shire)

the image contains 4 smaller images each with a word imposed over them. Top leff an image of a long brown haired woman leaning back in a dance pose looking upward at her extended arm with the word 'move'. Top right an image of multiple watercolour drawings laying on the floor with the 'Draw'. Bottom left and image of a row of people's torsos with helps held up in front of them with the word 'Sing'. Bottom right an image of the head of a woman lyin on her back with a pruple and white eye mask covering her eyes with the word 'Restore'.

Children of Destiny and The Tiger of Doom – When crisis strikes, can the Children of Destiny save the day?! This play has something in it for everyone and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Candelo Village Festival April 22 (Bega Valley Shire)

A collage of images including a rainbow coloured tiger face and children dancing in ancient robes

Rebus acknowledges the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people as the traditional custodians of the land on which we live and work, and pays our respect to elders past, present and emerging.

We practice radical empathy through theatre and other arts to stimulate healing and provoke social and environmental change. Together with our donors and friends, Rebus is embarking on a bold new path to reach more of our marginalised than ever before. Play your own part by making a tax deductible donation to support our mission here!

Donate to Rebus!

The Rebus Staff Wellbeing Program is supported by Hands Across Canberra in partnership with the Chief Minister’s Charitable Fund and the Canberra Foundations Collective.