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Artists, nature lovers and curious locals are being invited to experience a new kind of creative immersion, with BigCi set to launch its new Creative Encounters program later this month.
The launch day will be held on Saturday, January 31, 2026, from 10.30am to 4.00pm at BigCi, 82 Hanlons Road North, Bilpin, offering a full day of hands-on workshops and presentations designed to deepen participants’ creative connection with nature and Country.
For the past 15 years, BigCi has hosted artists from around the world, providing rare opportunities for deep creative practice at the edge of wilderness. The centre is led by artist, curator and mentor Rae Bolotin, alongside Yuri Bolotin, a wilderness explorer, author and environmentalist.
The new Creative Encounters initiative builds on this legacy, opening BigCi’s approach to creativity, nature and reflection to the wider community.
The program will begin with a Welcome to Country and cultural orientation led by Chris Tobin, a Darug artist, educator and researcher, who will introduce participants to the cultural significance of the land.
Participants will then join Yuri Bolotin on a guided bushwalk, learning about the local ecology while exploring creative ways of observing and documenting the natural environment.
The afternoon includes a paper-making demonstration and outdoor charcoal drawing session with Kelly Borger, an artist from Toronto, Canada. Using charcoal sourced from fire remnants, participants will explore themes of resilience and renewal through hands-on creative practice.
The day will conclude with grounding exercises and sensory writing led by Brisbane-based artist Caitlin Franzmann, who will guide participants through a gentle poetry-writing process inspired by plants in the BigCi garden.
The event is open to all ages, with adults and young people aged 7 to 17 welcome. No previous artistic experience is required, and beginners are encouraged to attend.
The mostly outdoor program will include sheltered spaces, wet-weather alternatives, and light refreshments, with participants asked to bring their own lunch and dress for the weather.
To mark the launch of the program and gather community feedback, BigCi has heavily subsidised ticket prices for the day. Adult tickets are available for $50, while young people’s tickets are $25, with places limited. For more information visit www.bigci.org
