Flying High 2025
A children’s art exhibition like no other.
Flying High was an immersive, installation-based children’s art exhibition created through reflective and therapeutic art-making experiences. Bringing together children from preschools, schools, community workshops, art therapy programs and the Sydney Children’s Hospital Network, the exhibition celebrated the limitless spirit of childhood — imagination, emotional expression, courage, hope, compassion and creativity. Held at Parramatta Town Hall, Flying High transformed the space into a magical world of gardens, floating birds, glowing lanterns, immersive installations, projection art, soundscapes and interactive experiences that invited visitors to pause, reflect and reconnect with themselves.
At the heart of the exhibition was a powerful message: that children are deeply intuitive, emotionally intelligent beings with meaningful stories, ideas and perspectives to share.
Through art, they explored their inner worlds — their feelings, dreams, fears, hopes and experiences — while learning that creativity can also be a force for compassion and change. The symbolic bird became the central motif of the exhibition — representing freedom, imagination, resilience and perspective. Through soaring installations and collaborative artworks, children were reminded: “I am capable, I am creative and I am free to fly.”
A Community Coming Together
Flying High brought together hundreds of children and families from across Sydney, including contributions from:
Janani’s Art and Art Therapy Students, Lane Cove Montessori, Kaz Early Learning Centre, Goulding Hill Preschool, Kellyville Preschool, Gingerbread Kindergarten Castle Hill, Little Cubs Academy North Parramatta , Cumberland High School and The Sydney Children’s Hospital Network.
Each installation explored a different emotional or philosophical theme including:
Courage, gratitude, kindness, wonder, hope, freedom, perspective, strength, energy, dreams, life and emotional wholeness.
Visitors were invited not only to observe the artworks, but to actively participate through reflective prompts, collaborative installations, written messages, visualisations and interactive art experiences. The exhibition became a shared emotional journey — one that encouraged self-awareness, empathy, imagination and human connection.
Supporting The Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation
One of the most meaningful aspects of Flying High was its fundraising mission. All proceeds from the exhibition were donated to The Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation, helping support children and families facing health challenges.
Through the collective efforts of the community, Flying High proudly raised: $9,000 for The Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation, the final amount coming in as a beautiful surprise after the exhibition.
The exhibition also featured The Garden of Courage — a deeply moving collaborative installation created with children and families from the Sydney Children’s Hospital Network. Each bird in the installation represented the unique courage, creativity and resilience of a child’s journey. This partnership allowed children participating in Flying High to experience something profound: that their creativity could uplift, heal and make a tangible difference in the lives of others.
The Vision Behind Flying High
“As an artist, art therapist and teacher, I created Flying High not only to showcase the incredible depth of expression children are capable of, but to plant the seeds of something much greater: empathy, purpose, community and self-awareness.” — Janani Peiris
Flying High was more than an exhibition. It was a living expression of The Conscious Creativity Method — a philosophy centred around emotional awareness, imagination, reflection, self-expression, compassion and connection. It reminded both children and adults that creativity is not simply about making art — it is a pathway back to ourselves.
Looking Forward
Flying High was the beginning of something much larger — a growing movement dedicated to helping children explore their inner worlds through creativity while fostering compassion, emotional resilience, imagination and community connection.
Future exhibitions, workshops and immersive experiences are currently in development. To stay updated on future events and opportunities to participate, follow along via social media or subscribe to the mailing list.