Picture Culture: Here & Now is a photographic celebration of the Sunshine Coast – alive with stories, traditions, and identities that stretch beyond the expected. Part of Horizon Festival 2026, the exhibition is an invitation to see the region through the lens of its people: layered, expressive, and unapologetically diverse. 

Although Australia is often described as a cultural 'melting pot', this regional coastal community is frequently perceived as predominantly white; an assumption that can overlook the vibrant diversity that truly exists here. This exhibition asks: what if when we look a little closer? What happens when First Nations and diasporic communities are celebrated, those who shape the beaches, streets, food, festivals and the future of the Sunshine Coast? 

Through 20 photographs submitted by locals of all ages and experience, Picture Culture: Here & Now captures the beauty of everyday cultural exchange, from quiet rituals to bold celebrations, from the coast to the hinterland. Curated by renowned photographer, Jo-Anne Driessens (Guwa-Koa, Gungarri, Kuku Yalanji), these images are declarations of belonging, resistance, and joy – and an offer to honor each other.  

Bear witness to a Sunshine Coast that’s not just changing, but thriving in full colour.

Horizon Festival Acknowledgement

Picture Culture: Here & Now is presented by Horizon Festival 2026 in partnership with The Old Ambulance Station.