Disruption exhibition celebrates powerful community response

In Summary

More than 1,900 people attended Disruption, an immersive art exhibition exploring the community’s response to emergencies and natural disasters.
The exhibition featured 37 original artworks by local young people aged 12 to 25, transformed into large-scale animated projections with a cinematic soundscape.
Disruption ran alongside Council’s First 72 Hours campaign, encouraging residents to prepare household emergency plans.
The exhibition was delivered by Council’s Resilience in Recovery team with support from local organisations and funding from the Australian and Victorian Governments.

The name ‘Disruption’ reflects the sudden and often overwhelming impact that emergencies can have on our lives. Running alongside the First 72 Hours campaign, the exhibition aimed to highlight practical steps we can all take to prepare for emergencies and strengthen our ability to adapt to extreme weather events.

Featuring 37 original artworks created by young locals aged 12 to 25, this bold and innovative show explored themes of natural disasters and emergency responses, told through the artists’ own personal stories.

Each artwork was transformed into a living experience through large-scale animated projections, brought to life by award-winning motion designer Brendan Cook and Darryn Rogers of pictureDRIFT. Their visual storytelling elevated the exhibition into a breathtaking sensory journey, making this experience a first of its kind in Greater Shepparton.

Complementing the visuals was an original score composed by ARIA Award-winner Helena Czajka with surround-sound mixing by Mighty Sound. This immersive soundscape deepened the emotional resonance of the exhibition, enveloping visitors in a powerful blend of art and audio.

Mayor, Councillor Shane Sali, congratulated the team and celebrated the community’s response to the exhibition.

“It was fantastic to see the creativity of our young people on display and to witness the community’s strong support. Disruption not only showcased artistic talent but also reminded us of the importance of emergency preparation when faced with a natural disaster,” he said.

“I would like to recognise the Resilience and Recovery team, along with all the organisations involved, for their outstanding work in bringing this exhibition together. From engaging young people to gather the artwork, and creating an exceptional space to showcase it, well done.”

Council’s Manager Emergency Management and Resilience, Belinda Conna, said it was inspiring to see the community actively engage with the exhibition.

“Watching over 1,900 people connect with this free exhibition was incredibly rewarding. Visitors left not only inspired but also equipped with the First 72 Hours emergency plan to complete with their households.”

Running alongside Greater Shepparton’s First 72 Hours campaign - a collaborative initiative involving multiple councils and emergency response agencies aimed at helping individuals develop their own emergency plans – ‘Disruption’ highlighted practical actions that promote preparedness and strengthen community connections in times of crisis.

‘Disruption’ was brought to life by the Resilience in Recovery team with the assistance of RiverConnect, Lighthouse Project, headspace Shepparton, Goulburn Valley Libraries and Uniting Vic Tas.

This activity was funded by the Australian and Victorian Governments in response to the October 2022, December 2023, and January 2024 flood and storm events that impacted Victorian communities in Greater Shepparton.