Presented by award winning creative studio, The Social Crew, Ballarat is soon to be home to Sunnyside, a large-scale art experience shaped through community collaboration with a single internationally renowned artist commissioned each year, bringing their distinctive style to life in bold, unexpected ways.
Renowned UK artist, Morag Myerscough, is the augural artist for Sunnyside at the historic Ballarat Mining Exchange with Chasing Sunbeams from 6 - 23 November 2025.
Sunnyside will showcase the first regional and major large-scale installation in Australia by Myerscough.
Known for her bold use of colour and pattern, Myerscough's work will transform the Mining Exchange, creating a fantastical and dynamic visual spectacle.
An uplifting and playful installation, Chasing Sunbeams will serve as a focal point, inviting visitors to engage with art in a uniquely vibrant setting.
Extending beyond the main installations, Sunnyside unfolds spilling into laneways, unexpected pockets, and hidden comers in a playful program of free wanderings, community collaborations, artist talks, ticketed experiences in the major installation and a creative workshop series.
Myerscough is a London-born artist renowned for her vibrant installations that transform public spaces. A significant aspect of her work involves conducting word and pattern workshops, where she collaborates with local communities to explore themes like belonging and identity.
Designed with the community, the work encourages joy, optimism, and creative thinking. Sunnyside invites people of all ages to break away from the expected, revel in bold ideas, and open their minds to a once-in-a-lifetime creative adventure. The experience invites visitors to step into a world of inspiration and playfulness, where history meets contemporary innovation.
Ballarat may be far from the bustling cities of the Northern Hemisphere, but she says, "Ballarat shares a deep historical narrative with many post-industrial cities I've worked in places where heritage and creativity intersect. There's a quiet strength here, a desire for colour and connection
that resonates deeply with the values behind my work."
Having an international artist involved in Sunnyside brings a fresh, global perspective to Ballarat, offering a rare opportunity for the local community to engage with cutting-edge, world-class art. It elevates the experience by introducing diverse creative approaches that might not otherwise be accessible, creating a unique cultural exchange.
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Steve Dimopoulos: "We are proud to back Sunnyside through our Regional Events Fund as it will provide a huge boost to the Ballarat economy, with visitors filling hotels, restaurants, bars and small businesses while they explore the region."
City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Tracey Hargreaves: "Sunnyside will be a bold celebration of creativity and community. Welcoming an artist of Morag Myerscough's calibre to Ballarat is a proud moment for our city. These vibrant installations will inspire locals and visitors alike, transforming our historic space at the Mining Exchange into something truly extraordinary."
Free talks by Morag Myerscough will be held at Federation University during Sunnyside, offering the public a rare opportunity to hear directly from the artist about her creative process and the ideas behind the work.
Morag Myerscough
Morag's mantra is 'make happy those who are near and those who are far will come'.
Born in Holloway, London, Morag has always lived in the city and has been fascinated by how colour, pattern and words can change urban environments and people's perceptions of spaces into places.
From schools and hospitals to cultural hubs and town centres, Morag transforms public spaces by creating engaging experiences for everyone. Morag recently designed a third space at Flux at Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich, presented her work at Coachella Festival in Palm Springs, and designed hundreds of installations in various other international locations.
Her Australian piece in Ballarat would be considered a first at this scale. To develop her work, Morag often works with community groups to develop ideas that reflect the identity of the users, drawing on the shared cultural history and heritage of the local area, making her the perfect choice for a program such as Sunnyside.
The Social Crew is an award-winning creative studio of talented producers based in both London and Melbourne. To bring Sunnyside to life, The Social Crew is collaborating with fabricators, makers, composers, local community members, designers, artists, photographers and more to create a collective vision.
With a passion for place-based storytelling and bold, immersive experiences, The Social Crew specialises in creative direction, public art, immersive experience and major event production.
Recent highlights include leading the art department for Gorillaz: House of Kong, the immersive, identity-driven experience in London; producing artist Rene's acclaimed installations Time at Flinders Street Station and the award-winning Empire at Burnham Beeches in Dandenong; delivering Melbourne's city-wide late-night cultural activation Art After Dark; and contributing to a range of public art projects across Victoria and beyond.
Sunnyside
6 - 23 November 2025
12 Lydiard St North, Ballarat
Sign up for tickets on sale on 2 September
@sunnysideart.ballarat
