The story so far...

As your event host, Richmond Fellowship Queensland (RFQ) is delighted to bring you a curated exhibition of 200 artworks by artists with lived experience of mental illness.

To celebrate the impressive milestone, please join us as we journey down memory lane...

In the beginning...

It all began in 1991, when the Schizophrenia Fellowship of South Queensland hosted the inaugural exhibition in their Drop In Centre during Schizophrenia Awareness Week. These were the humble beginnings of the art exhibition that would go on to grow into an iconic mental health event. Two years later, in 1993, the exhibition grew bigger, featuring an Art in the Park event sponsored by Brisbane City Council. Fast forward to 1995 and the exhibition had well and truly found its feet, with artwork adorning the walls of Brisbane Convention Centre.

Becoming a mainstay on the Brisbane art calendar...

The 1995 event was opened by Her Excellency, Leneen Forde, with former Brisbane Lord Mayor, Jim Soorley, doing the honours in 1996. That same year, an impressive 85 per cent of artworks were sold. 1997 marked the beginning of a new era, with the art exhibition opening in the iconic King George Square. It remained in the Square until 2006, when construction was the catalyst for a move to the Riverside Centre. Jumping forward to 2008, the exhibition took place in Southbank Piazza and proudly presented the works of 100 artists. Two years later, with construction done and dusted, the now-iconic exhibition delightedly returned to a lovely, renovated King George Square.

An award-winning event...

In 2014, the exhibition was recognised for its success by receiving a Queensland Mental Health Week Achievement Award. In 2018, we celebrated a new exhibition host, when Mental Illness Fellowship Queensland merged with Richmond Fellowship Queensland. 2019 was another year of achievements, with the exhibition receiving an Australia Day Cultural/Arts Award. Which brings us to this year...

The 2021 instalment...

It’s been an incredible journey filled with twists, turns and triumphs, in many ways echoing the lives and stories of our amazing artists who make this event possible. This year, we’ve proudly modernised the art offering in a COVID world; presenting the in-person exhibition as we always have, while also creating an online gallery and store.

Thank you so much for stopping by and supporting the beloved Recovered Futures Art Exhibition!