Ryde Inclusive Arts Competition

What is Ryde Inclusive Arts Competition?

The Ryde Inclusive Arts Competition is a celebration of creativity for people with disability, aged 18 and over, who live, work, or study in the City of Ryde.

The theme for this competition is Inclusion and Belonging.

Winners of the 2025 Competition

WINNER - Virginia Bucknell

Title of Artwork - Connected and Belonging to Nature and Home

Description - My artwork represents the theme of Inclusion and Belonging, as I live near to the bushland walks and parks in Ryde and when I walk in nature, I feel that I become connected to the beauty and tranquil feeling that the bush inspires. My painting is of a dancer who is connected to the trees and bushland, it is almost that she belongs to the nature around her.

RUNNER UP - Jennifer Lam-Huang

Title of Artwork - Inside My ADHD Maze

Description - This painting is an abstract representation of my brain and the inner workings of ADHD. I was diagnosed at 40, and for the first time, I began to understand why my thoughts, emotions, and energy have always felt tangled and alive. The winding pink pathways represent my neural circuits, constantly moving and branching in every direction. The doorway spiralling into Silent Chaos, Unfinished Echoes, and Lingering What-ifs captures the overwhelm and unfinished thoughts The green garden below grows with Joy Shared and Connect Within, representing how belonging starts when I make space for myself and others to be real, messy, and human. This piece is a window into my inner world and a reminder that inclusion is not about fitting in. It’s about creating space for every kind of mind to belong.

THIRD PLACE - Emma Kelly

Title of Artwork - My House is where I Belong

Description - This artwork depicts many colourful houses close together with their own character and style. Houses in the painting represent the family unit which is incredibly important in our society. Overall, the painting represents the idea that although we are all different - we all work, fit and grow together as a whole.