By arts editor Helen Musa

A joyous romp through the world of art, and proof that creative power is at work among young Canberrans, has been unveiled at M16 Artspace.

Now in its 20th year, the annual Step into the Limelight exhibition, the brainchild of the ACT Education Directorate’s Instrumental Music Program, showcases artwork created by ACT public school students from K-12 in no fewer than 35 schools and colleges.

The exhibition’s theme for 2026 is Break Through, and the artworks, ranging across painting, sculpture, digital art, textiles and mixed media, have taken over all three gallery spaces and M16’s miniature Chutespace gallery.

To the strains of Gustav Holst’s Jupiter, played by the ACT Senior Concert Band Chamber Ensemble under the baton of Shoshana Honey-Erlandson, parents, friends, students and art lovers crammed into M16 for the Friday morning opening and to hear several special announcements.

Curator Veronica Thwaites-Brown, director of Step into the Limelight and the Arena Spectacular, spoke to the year’s theme. She suggested Break Through could mean “trying new things”, “gaining confidence”, “using your talents in the arts to get through hard times”, “technological breakthrough and innovation”, “breaking through stereotypes to be the person you are meant to be”, or “overcoming obstacles”.

All these ideas, she said, could be seen in the artwork on show.

Thwaites-Brown later told CityNews that each school or college had selected a set number of artworks that were then thematically curated by her team, together with staff at M16. One wall, for instance, focused on portraits while another was devoted to paintings of animals.

The morning also featured art awards.

The Isabel Matthews Scholarship, named in honour of a young photographer, artist and former Step into the Limelight participant, was presented by David and Litia Matthews to Ari Pertsinidis, Year 9, Lyneham High School, and Elouise Howland, Year 12, Dickson College. Each received a $1000 cash bursary and a Student Encouragement Program package from PhotoAccess.

The new M16 Artspace Exhibition and Mentorship Award, which guarantees an exhibition in January 2027 and mentorship for two senior secondary art students, was announced by M16 managing director Lucy Chetcutti.

She commented that recent news articles and podcasts had noted an interesting shift among Gen Z, who appear to be reaching out for the creative and tactile, embracing slower activities that require patience, focus and attention.

The M16 award went to Malakai Hayes, Year 12, Lake Tuggeranong College, for the painting Home, and to Salwa Ibrahim, Year 12, Dickson College, for the ceramic work Mosque, with a Special Commendation awarded to Lola Rooney, Year 12, Dickson College.

Hayes described to CityNews the way he layers colour in his paintings and said that, now in Year 12, he hopes to study occupational therapy with a focus on art therapy in the future.

Step into the Limelight Art Exhibition, M16 Artspace, Griffith, until June 28. Free.