Friendship on show at annual art exhibition in Port Kembla

deansimpson7
Jan 14
2 min read

Updated: Jan 28

The theme of this year’s First Floor Program art exhibition is ‘Friendship’.

BY DEAN SIMPSON

The Salvation Army Foundery Family Centre in Port Kembla (NSW) is preparing to host its annual art exhibition at the end of this month.

The Cross Connection Community Arts Exhibition, now in its second year, is set to run from 23-31 January, with this year’s theme being ‘Friendship’.

“We are accepting entries up to Saturday 17 January,” said Marilyn Dunn, Coordinator of the First Floor Program that operates out of the Port Kembla complex.

“Works being submitted are to feature, include reference or evoke the theme of friendship.”

Marilyn said any form of creative expression is acceptable – painting and drawing, sculpture, photography, musical composition, written expression, fabric art, mosaics and more. Once again, a People’s Choice Award and a Spirit Award will be presented.

The Cross Connection exhibition continues the creative arts influence of the First Floor Program’s Jayne Wilson Exhibition, which was named after the program’s founder and was a yearly feature of Wollongong Corps for 10 years, before it concluded in 2024.

Jayne Wilson, founder of The Salvation Army First Floor program in Wollongong.

The Jesus-centred First Floor Program is a holistic, family-inclusive counselling and support service for those impacted by alcohol and drug addiction, mental health issues, trauma, grief and loss.

The exhibition was established in memory of Jayne Wilson, who died from cancer on Christmas Day 2013. She was a passionate artist who incorporated artistic practices into the First Floor Program. An ‘art for healing’ class still operates as part of the First Floor Program.

Entry forms for the Cross Connection Community Arts Exhibition can be obtained by emailing firstfloorprogram@salvationarmy.org.au

For more information, see the First Floor Program Facebook page here.