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Opening night of our alumni exhibition as part of Makers Month.

The Creative Foundations Alumni Exhibition opened in The Annexe as part of Makers Month at The Foundations in October 2025, a four-weekend program that also included the October long weekend markets, Draw Portland, Leather and Threads and a Firey Finale, supported by Lithgow City Council.

Opening speeches were given by Harrie Fasher, Lead Artist in Residence at The Foundations, Rich Evans, Reactivation Officer, and Kylie Shead, Executive Officer of Arts OutWest.

A ceramics and wellbeing workshop supporting our regional community.

The Bathhouse was activated with a “Wellbeing & Ceramics” workshop in association with Rural Adversity Mental Health, supported by an onsite mental health worker. A second session, including a raku firing, was held in Harrie Fasher’s studio.

First Nations Auntie Barb Quayle from Menindee, Barkindji Country, attended as part of her Residency Exchange and Mentorship program with Harrie Fasher, while studio artists Annabel Mason and T C Overson were mentored by Harrie to help run the sessions. The workshop was supported by a Country Art Support Project managed by Arts OutWest through Create NSW.

The region’s first STEAM Fair, drawing over 1,000 visitors across the weekend.

The inaugural STEAM Fair at The Foundations ran from 10 to 12 November 2023 and was hailed a great success. Over 150 school children took part in workshops during the Friday preview day, and more than 1,000 visitors attended across the weekend, taking in old steam engines, printing presses, vintage computers, VR experiences and a wide range of workshops, talks and tours.

The Saturday night opening in The Annexe launched “Mutualism”, a new collaborative work by artist Tully Arnot and local blacksmith Phil Spark exploring the endangered Purple Copper Butterfly. Guests also heard from Ian Allan, supervisor of Natural Areas & Arboriculture at Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, on his role protecting the Wollemi Pines during the 2019–20 Black Summer Bushfires. The event was officially opened by the Director of Regional Development Australia, one of the major event sponsors.

“This was the first event of its kind in the region, and with the great feedback we have received over the weekend, hopefully it will be the first of many more to come.” – Rich Evans, STEAMWorks committee member

A Stargazing and knowledge-sharing evening with Wiradjuri knowledge holders.

STEAMworks collaborated with local Wiradjuri knowledge holders and community members for an Astronomy Night at The Foundations in November 2022. Wiradjuri Elder and Dubbo TAFE language teacher Aunty Iris led workshops on astronomy, animal totems and language, with attendees designing their own totem cards and learning her song “Yindyamarra” (Respect).

As the sun set, guests gathered for a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony, followed by a performance from dance group Ngumbaay Miyagan and Sky Stories from Wiradjuri man and artist Peter Swain. As the stars appeared, local astronomers Tina and Trevor Leaman from Dark Skies Downunder and astro-photographer Niall MacNeill guided small groups through the night sky, with attendees travelling from as far as Penrith and Newcastle.

Our inaugural free, all-ages community picnic on the shores of The Millpond.

STEAMworks presented the inaugural Ecology Picnic on the scenic shores of The Millpond at The Foundations in October 2022. The free, all-ages community event drew approximately 350 people, who browsed produce stalls from the Portland Rural Fire Brigade, Lithgow Environment Group, Lithgow Valley Mushrooms, Killibinbin Native Nursery and Blue Mountains Honey.

Free drop-in workshops ran throughout the day, including fly fishing lessons with Wallerawang CAS, daisy-chain creations with florist Rhonda Collins, plein-air sketching with artist-educator Linda Hine and clay model making with Ecological Arts Facilitator Julie-Ann Henninger. Dr Ricky Spencer, co-program lead of the 1 Million Turtles Community Conservation Program, also gave a talk raising awareness of local turtles.

A multi-sensory adult evening exploring the world of bees.

STEAMworks presented All about the Bees at The Annexe in September 2022, a multi-sensory evening exploring the world of bees through food, art and science. The event reached capacity and featured a honey-inspired seated dinner crafted by The Lithgow Tin Shed using locally sourced produce.

Sydney University PhD candidate Amelie Vanderstock hosted a drop-in Bee Hotel Workshop and a Bee-themed trivia quiz, while local visual artist Amanda Agustin led a participatory drawing activity exploring bee anatomy. Portland-based honey producers Steve and Genevieve Craig from Blue Mountains Honey brought along live bee hives and showcased their bee products.