Reflect, Respect and Reactivate
Reflect, Respect and Reactivate is an exciting program of events for Albany 2026 at Albany’s Historic Whaling Station. Included in the year-long program will be special events, cultural performances, artists in residence, and exhibitions. The program aligns with three broad themes: Connecting with our past, celebrating the present, and embracing the future.
Flagship Free Community Event
Benang Koondarm: Tomorrow’s Dream
A Night of Culture, Connection and Celebration
Saturday 18 April 2026
Gates open 3:30pm | Performance 5:30pm
A joyful outdoor celebration of Noongar culture, connection, and community under the stars in our Amphitheatre. Enjoy food trucks, cultural market stalls, festival activities and immersive experiences that honour Country and celebrate the spirit of tomorrow’s dream.
Supported by City of Albany.
Special Events
Presented by Southern Edge Arts.
Saturday 16 May 2026
Gates open 5:00pm | Performance 6:00pm
A powerful new performance celebrating the resilience of people in the face of historic change: strength, spirit, and the fire that connects us all.
Supported by City of Albany.
Dance | Exhibition | Dinner
Friday 5 June 2026
From 3:30pm (performance 5:00pm)
An intimate evening shaped by tides and coastline with woven sculpture, immersive projections and soundscapes.
Supported by City of Albany.
Artists in Residence Program
2 April to 31 May 2026
An Artist in Residence exhibition by Jo Wassell bringing into focus the overlooked lives of the wives and daughters who shaped Australia’s whaling communities through finely rendered portraits and stories.
Supported by City of Albany.
3 July to 30 August 2026
An Artist in Residence exhibition by Erin Coates weaving together family history and whaling archives to create sculpture and installation work exploring human and animal entanglement, memory, extinction, and regeneration.
Supported by DLGSC, Western Australian Government and City of Albany.
Boodja – A Goreng Woman’s Journey by Jennifer Woods
3 to 29 November 2026
An Artist in Residence exhibition by Goreng artist, Jennifer Woods, whose paintings are grounded in Boodja (Country) not just as landscape, but as living presence.
Supported by City of Albany.
Gallery & Touring Exhibitions
2 to 23 June 2026
Discover artist Lizzie Riley latest work exploring turbulence, drift, and the arrival of calm – where movement softens into serenity, floating toward peace.
1 July to 30 September 2026
Discover Cats & Dogs: All at Sea, a captivating free photographic exhibition exploring the often-overlooked role of animals aboard seafaring vessels.
Albany Maritime Festival – July School Holidays
4 to 19 July 2026
These July school holidays, turn your visit into a treasure hunt with Stowaway Hide and Seek, a playful adventure throughout the site.
Ocean Builders: 3D Marine Craft Activity
6 to 10 July 2026
Dive into a hands-on craft experience where the ocean comes to life. Decorate and build your own marine creature, transforming flat pieces into a sculptural form.
Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 July 2026
Join us for an afternoon of maritime melodies, lively shanties, and seafaring spirit, filled with singalongs, toe-tapping performances, and plenty of nautical charm.
Paws at Sea: Miniature Felt Workshop
Tuesday 14 & Thursday 16 July 2026
Inspired by our Cats & Dogs exhibition, create a miniature felt cat or dog at sea in this hands-on workshop with artist Serena McLauchlan. Suitable for ages 13+ years, includes all materials.
Art Workshops
Friday 3 July 2026
Develop your graphite drawing skills with exhibiting artist Erin Coates through hands-on exercises exploring shading, composition, observation, and drawing from objects and reference imagery. Suitable for ages 16+ years, includes all materials and a light morning tea.
Anatomical Collage and Graphite Workshop
Sunday 5 July 2026
Explore collage and graphite drawing with artist Erin Coates using vintage nature imagery to create layered, imaginative artworks inspired by human and animal biology. Suitable for ages 16+ years, includes all materials and a light morning tea.
Discover Our Past Events
Ocean Meets Vine – Taste Great Southern
A Riesling and oyster masterclass with Emma Farrelly and Jerry Fraser.
Saturday 7 March 2026
4:30pm – 6:30pm
Coast and cellar come together for an intimate masterclass dedicated to the finest of pairings – oysters and Riesling.
4 February to 28 March 2026
An exhibition by Sally Pell celebrating the wool, the workers, and the quiet stories carried across generations. Stitched into blankets, lives, and community memory.
