Australia Council Chief Executive Officer Tony Grybowski today opened a new art exhibition showcasing works and projects developed by artists collaborating with communities across urban, regional and remote Australia.

Mr Grybowski said the exhibition, Symbiosis: Living Through Art, was an innovative project funded by the Australia Council through its Community Partnerships program and was now on show in the foyer of the council’s Sydney office.

Symbiosis: Living Through Art celebrates the process of artists and communities coming together to make ground-breaking art that draws on life experiences, reflecting diverse knowledge, histories, identities and localities, Mr Grybowski said.

Curated by Rusaila Bazlamit, the exhibition features recent screen-based work, new writing, music, theatre and visual arts projects that have been co-created by artists working in collaboration with diverse communities around Australia.

Some of the works were created by emerging African communities, Muslim women from around Australia, Aboriginal communities, Victorian farmers and the homeless.

We were delighted that many of the artists shared their stories and experiences of how these projects were initiated and developed at the launch event.

Mr Grybowski said the Australia Council’s Community Partnerships support community arts and cultural development practice through a range of programs and initiatives.

The program encompasses collaborations between professional artists and communities with the aim of achieving high quality results and long-term benefits, Mr Grybowski said.

Community Partnerships focuses on a number of areas, including remote and regional Australia, Aboriginal communities, disability, young people, cultural diversity, emerging communities and important social and cultural issues.

It also delivers the Australia Council’s arts and education initiatives, such as the Artist in Residence program through collaborations with the states and territories.

Symbiosis: Living Through Art will run until 4 September at the Australia Council for the Arts’ Rover Thomas Auditorium at 372 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills.

It will be open to the public from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and entry is free.