The Unmuted: Amplifying Youth Voices Exhibition gives young artists with care experience the chance to have their work and stories seen, heard, and celebrated.
Image: The Living Arts team standing in front of a textile artwork which says 'Welcome to Living Arts', smiling at the camera. L-R: Mark Timberlake, Resident Artist, Phi Theodoros, Lead Resident Artist and Shaun Bott, Operations Manager, CYF Programs.
A powerful new exhibition, Unmuted: Amplifying Youth Voices, showcasing the creative talents of young people with experience in out-of-home care launched last week as part of the 2025 South Australian Living Arts (SALA) Festival.
The exhibition, hosted at the Adelaide College of the Arts’ Light Square Gallery, brings together a collection of artworks created by participants in Life Without Barriers' Living Arts program, a creative support service designed to nurture connection, expression and healing for children and young people in out-of-home care.
Image: A collection of artworks mounted on a white wall in a gallery.
"Living Arts works with vulnerable young people, not just to have their voices heard, but to really provide a platform for them to be amplified, as we've called this exhibition," said Phi Theodoros, Lead Resident Artist, Life Without Barriers.
"It's a dream come true to have this opportunity to fill an entire professional gallery with the work that these young people have made, and to walk alongside them on this journey has been phenomenal."
Image: Phi Theodoros, Lead Resident Artist - Living Arts, MCing at the exhibition launch. Behind her is an artwork of a mouth with speech bubbles created by Jasper, one of the young artists we support.
The exhibition features the work of young artists who have used their creative talents to express their voice and speak their truth through photography, music, song writing, sculpture, painting, and film.
"Many of our young people are exceptionally talented creatives across multiple mediums, and this exhibition is a wonderful opportunity to showcase their skills and stories," said Phi.
"It's a space where we've really been able to celebrate all that our young people have to offer."
Image: Jackie Bray, Chief Executive of Department of Child Protection, adding a ‘lock’ to our bridge installation that attendees to share feedback, reflections, or commitments that they are going to undertake as inspired by the exhibition. Jackie Bray's message reads "I promise to listen, I promise you’ll be heard."
Keisha, a photographer and musician, is one of the young artists showcasing their work in the exhibition.
"This is the first time I’ve really shared my music with others. My photos have been exhibited before, but this is my first time sharing photos and music in SALA," Keisha shared.
Keisha's photography focuses on nature, exploring her love for the outdoors.
"For the past 13 years I lived with my carers on Kangaroo Island, where I was surrounded by nature, which became my core inspiration with photography."
"I’ve always been an outdoors kind of person - this is where I feel calm and relaxed. When life gets challenging, sometimes I look back at the photos I capture to remember that sense of calm and peace."
"I enjoy photography because it lets the world see what the world is like through my eyes sometimes."
Image: Three individuals stand in front of a wall of photos at the exhibition looking at the photos captured by artist Keisha who is on the far right.
Co-designed by Minister for Child Protection Katrine Hildyard MP and Life Without Barriers, the exhibition provides a platform for young people to share their personal experiences creatively, on their terms, at Australia’s largest visual arts festival.
"Every child and young person, no matter their starting point, deserves to have their voices heard and to be given the opportunity to express themselves," said Katrine Hildyard.
"I am so impressed and moved by the creativity of these young artists and how they have found their voices through art, and really grateful that their talents have been nurtured through Life Without Barriers’ Living Arts program and that through this remarkable SALA exhibition their artworks are showcased to our state."
Image: The Honourable Katrine Hildyard MP, Minister for Child Protection standing in front of our “Flock Together” wings at the exhibition opening.
Minister Hildyard encouraged the collaboration with Life Without Barriers after the not-for-profit’s Living Arts team received the 'Voice of the Child and Young Person' award at the Department for Child Protection Awards in 2024.
"At the awards ceremony, we happened to have a conversation with Minister Hildyard about doing an exhibition at the SALA Festival," shared Lucy Wade, Director Child, Youth and Family, South Australia.
"The Minister has been incredibly supportive, and we are incredibly excited to showcase the amazing work of the young people that we have the privilege of working for."
"They are exceptionally talented artists, and it's wonderful to see, their works showcased and exhibited in a professional gallery."
Image: : A collection of “Hidden Conversation Flower” sculptures on display in a gallery. These flowers contain messages from young people in care on each petal reflecting conversations they wish they could have or would like to have with the adults in their worlds.
Running throughout August, Unmuted: Amplifying Youth Voices is part of SALA’s annual state-wide celebration of visual art. The Exhibition will remain on display at Light Square Gallery, Adelaide College of the Arts, until the end of the month.
