Curiosity, Creativity and Community: Inside Melbourne’s ANVAM March to Art Exhibition 2026

There’s something special about walking into a space where curiosity is the theme and you can feel it.

On Thursday evening, I attended the launch of the Australian National Veterans Arts Museum (ANVAM) March to Art 2026 Exhibition in Melbourne. This year’s theme is curiosity, and it showed up in ways that were both subtle and striking.

Not just in the artwork itself, but in the conversations, the energy in the room, and the stories behind each piece.

Curiosity and Creativity in Action

What stood out to me most was how curiosity was not something being explained. It was something being experienced.

You could see people pausing longer than usual in front of pieces.
Leaning in.
Asking questions.
Sharing interpretations.

There was no single “right way” to view the pieces, and that felt important.

Because curiosity, at its core, is not about certainty.
It is about openness.

And that openness created something powerful. A shared space where people could explore, reflect, and connect through creativity.

The Power of Creative Expression in the Veteran Community

It was also wonderful to reconnect with people and meet artists from across the veteran community.

Creative expression plays an important role in bringing people together. It allows stories to be shared in ways that do not always rely on words, creating space for understanding, connection, and reflection.

Events like this highlight the depth of talent within the veteran community in Australia, while also showing how art can support wellbeing, identity, and a sense of belonging.

In many ways, the exhibition felt less like a display and more like a gathering. A coming together of perspectives, identities, and lived experiences.

A Very Melbourne Arts Experience

Of course, no Melbourne evening would be complete without a sudden shift in weather.

The night included a torrential downpour 🌧️ ☔

And yet, there was something quite fitting about arriving a little damp, brushing it off, and stepping into a space filled with warmth, colour, and creativity.

It felt like a reminder that showing up does not need to be perfect.

Sometimes, it is just about being there.

From Curiosity to Clarity: Getting Unstuck Through Exploration

Walking away from the exhibition, I found myself reflecting on how curiosity shows up beyond art.

Not as something grand or complicated.

But as something quiet and everyday.

The moment you pause instead of rushing past.
The question you ask instead of assuming.
The idea you allow yourself to explore, even if it feels uncertain.

Because often, curiosity is where clarity begins.

And sometimes, getting unstuck does not start with answers.
It starts with a question.