DAWSON SCHOOLCHILDREN INVITED TO PUT THEIR MARK ON PARLIAMENT HOUSE
A coral reef, a cane field, a Bowen mango, or even a cheeky Queensland croc could soon be lighting up the exterior façade of Parliament House.
Creative kids in Years 5 and 6 across Dawson are being invited to submit an artwork for a spectacular projection on the Australian Parliament House frontage during the Enlighten Festival 2027.
Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox MP, said this is a fantastic opportunity for our young artists to show the rest of Australia what makes Dawson special.
“Our part of Queensland is pretty hard to beat when it comes to inspiration,” Mr Willcox said.
“We have the Great Barrier Reef, cane fields, beaches, rainforest, rivers, farmers, fishing, wildlife and some of the most unique communities in the country.
“There is plenty there to put on the big screen, and in this case, the screen is Parliament House itself.”
The Enlighten Festival is Canberra's annual celebration of light, art and creativity. From 26 February to 8 March 2027, Australia's iconic national attractions will come alive after dark with spectacular projections.
As part of the celebrations marking 100 years of Parliament in Canberra, artworks from every state and territory will be projected onto the Australian Parliament House façade.
“I would love to see a slice of Dawson among them,” Mr Willcox added.
“Imagine walking around Canberra at night and seeing Parliament House illuminated with artwork created by a student from Dawson.
“That would be something to be proud of.”
Mr Willcox said that this is also about more than creating a great piece of art.
The program encourages students to think about the places, people, animals, plants and landscapes that make their corner of Australia special, while giving them an opportunity to engage with civics and learn more about the home of Australia's democracy.
“There is something pretty special about a student's artwork going from their classroom to a national stage,” he said.
“And let's be honest, if you're going to put Dawson in lights, we have some pretty good material to work with.
“The canvas is Parliament House, but the story is Dawson.
“I am encouraging schools, teachers and parents across Dawson to get behind this opportunity and encourage our creative Year 5 and 6 students to have a go.”
Submissions are open until Thursday 29 October 2026, so there is plenty of time for young artists to get their creative thoughts flowing.
Submissions close Thursday 29 October 2026.
A toolkit for students with tips and templates, and a fact sheet for parents is available on the Parliament House website: aph.gov.au/StudentArtwork.
ENDS
Contact: Amanda Wright | Media & Communications Adviser
P | 07 4944 0662 M | 0455 456 705 E | Amanda.Wright@aph.gov.au