The Torch is proud to celebrate the success of We Sit in Circle, which recently concluded its second annual showcase. Bringing together community, culture, and truth-telling, this year’s exhibition celebrated the profound creativity, resilience, and artistic practice of First Peoples women creators across Victoria.

Behind the extraordinary visual displays were remarkable outcomes driven by community support. An impressive 81% of all featured artworks—44 out of 54 individual pieces—found new homes during the showcase, generating $17,510 paid directly to the artists, ensuring creators are fairly compensated for their practice, stories, and cultural knowledge.

Beyond the gallery walls, the public program brought community together to hold space. Both the interactive weaving workshop and the keynote panel discussion reached full capacity, reflecting a strong public appetite for authentic, immersive cultural learning.

A major highlight of the program was a special collaborative workshop hosted by First Peoples Art Mentor Flick Chafer-Smith alongside Naarm streetwear brand Gammin Threads, held specifically for the Tiddas group. The event provided a rich, welcoming space for cultural sharing, connection, and creative expression. The Torch also hosted a targeted corporate event in partnership with Mob Jobs, which acted as a second mini-launch—fostering valuable professional networks, creating direct pathways, and generating further artwork sales.

Behind the scenes, smooth operations were supported by dedicated team members, including Teagan Pierce, who joined the de-install team to ensure the artworks were handled with care.

Public response to the showcase was overwhelming, with visitors leaving deeply moving messages of gratitude and reflection in the event commentary booklet. The broader community also embraced the exhibition through extensive media coverage, with feature stories published across National Indigenous Times, The Koori Mail, Broadsheet, The Big Issue, CBD News, Triple R, and 3KND.

The Torch extends sincere gratitude to Flick, the participating artists, program team members, and partner organisations who contributed to making this year’s event so impactful. While the official exhibition has concluded, the movement of supporting First Peoples creators continues year-round. Community leaders and supporters are invited to explore ongoing partnerships through artwork licensing, workshops, and keynotes.