PollyannaR

Interdisciplinary Artist | Community Arts Leader | Creative Strategist

PollyannaR is a Gippsland-based interdisciplinary artist, known for pioneering large-scale, participatory art projects that bridge art, activism, and community development. With over 15 years of experience working across regional Victoria, her practice is grounded in creative advocacy, social justice, and inclusive place-making.

PollyannaR is recognised for her ability to connect people and ideas through bold, values-led projects that explore complex community issues from climate resilience and social equity to identity and belonging. Often described as an “outsourced risk-taker” by government and non-profit partners, she is regularly engaged to lead innovative community engagement strategies that make policy more accessible and public participation more meaningful. Partners include Engie Australia, Energy Australia, Mine Land Rehabilitation Authority, CRC Time, Latrobe Health Assembly, University of Melbourne, Federation University, 54 Reasons, Gippsland Women’s Heath, Midsummer and Melbourne City Council.

Projects

• Creative Director – Coal Hole Latrobe Valley Mine Rehabilitation– 2019 – present 

• Creative Director: BIG Respect Gippsland 2022 – present

• Creative Director: BIG Connection 2024 – present 

• Gallery Coordinator Arc Yinnar 2025 – Present

•  Creative Director – Mansi On Raymond Luxury Apartments – 2013 to 2024

• Creative Latrobe Project Officer – Latrobe City Council  – 2023

• Founder & CEO – The BIG Picture Space Inc 2016 – 2021
  
  
• Arts Columnist: Gippslandia – 2017 – 2020 

Kyle Bush

Landscape Architect Academic

Kyle (he/him) is a landscape architectural academic. His practice focuses on post-mining landscapes and critical design pedagogies, cultivating cultures of design practice centred on co-production and relationality. He has worked collaboratively on projects that challenge the exclusion of various communities from shared processes and narratives, aiming to build capacity and distribute agency during periods of transition.

Projects 

• The Void Industry partnered landscape architectural design studios delivered at RMIT University, in partnership with Engie Australia, Energy Australia, Mine Land Rehabilitation Authority, and various community representatives, advocates and groups – (link)
• Visualisations for An emerging vision for post-mining land use: A synthesis of three community deliberations in Australia’s Latrobe Valley published in 2025 with collaborators at Federation University, University of Melbourne and CSIRO – link
• ‘settlement’? or invasion., a creative work exhibited in the 2022 Thinking into Being: QUT Alumni Triennial at QUT Art Gallery – link 1 / link 2 / Link 3
• Pageant of Power [Reprise] short film (link), screened at Melbourne Design Week 2022 (link)
• Various projects as ReActivate Latrobe Valley Project Lead: 
  • Get Cheffed event (link / link)
  • Get Stuffed Food Network (link 1 / link 2)
• ReActivate Hub Co-working space (link)

Josie Hess

Filmmaker | Impact Producer

Josie Hess (they/them) is a filmmaker, artist and impact producer creating documentary and narrative films. Working across screen media, their work focuses on social justice and storytelling. Josie’s creative endeavors have been recognized by The Guardian, The Age, The Feed,  ABC News, Filmmaker Magazine and Art Link, among others. They hold a Masters in Journalism, a Bachelor of Film & Television, and a B.A majoring in history for good measure.

Projects 

• Organiser – 10 Years On – 2024 – Community Day (Funded by Doc Society, MLRA, LVA, Environment Vic, Bank Aus, with over 100 partners across film, media, environment, community, health, industry, education and government ) – Website/ Link 
  
• Director/ Producer – Ashes to Aftermath – 2024 – Film & Impact Campaign (Funded by Environment Victoria) – Website/ Link
• Creative – Twilight of Yallourn – 2023 – Photoseries (Supported by Energy Australia) – Website/ Link
  
• Director/ Producer After the Smoke – 2023 – Film (Funded by ABC, Premiere at Sydney International Film Festival) – Website / Link
  
• Impact Producer – Life after Coal – Ongoing – Impact campaign – (Supported by Doc Society and the MyTri Grant)  Website / Link
  
• Co-Host/Co-Producer – Coal Face – Ongoing – Podcast – (Supported by Fed Uni, the Morwell Innovation Center and the Vic Government) Website/ Link