a bit thing
Dr Paola Balla, Katen Balla & Rosie Kalina
World Premiere
Presented by Arts House
Wednesday 24th June – Friday 17th July 2026
Mon – Sat, 10am – 4pm
Free exhibition
Warnings
a bit thing is suitable for all ages, with a family friendly and culturally safe environment. The exhibition contains references to colonisation and trauma.
Arts House
North Melbourne Town Hall
521 Queensberry St
North Melbourne
Wheelchair Accessible
Quiet Space Available
Assistance Animal
Visual Rating 75%
Aural Rating 50%a bit thing is a bold new intergenerational exhibition and public program from a Blak and neurodivergent lens – deep diving into the special interests Blackfullas carry at the heart of our creative and cultural lives.
Led by matriarch & curator Dr Paola Balla, and co-curated with Rosie Kalina and Katen Balla, a bit thing explores art, Koorie culture and pop culture as pathways for joy, connection and survival — unpacking how we heal from the impacts of the colony, whilst celebrating the things that light us up.
Across interactive and immersive curated spaces, a bit thing invites audiences into a sensorially rich world of niche obsessions and critical conversation. The exhibition will feature paintings, weavings, photography, mixed media, moving image and digital artworks from a deadly & diverse lineup of artists, alongside a program of film screenings, talks, yarning circles and more.
Grounded firmly in Blak, neurodivergent perspectives and lived experiences, a bit thing will create spaces of communal respite for mob to connect, geek-out and share what we love.
a bit thing is a celebration of the special interests that capture our attention, fuel our curiosity, and keep our spirits strong.
Stay tuned for more details on the exhibiting artists and the public program!
About the artists
Dr Paola Balla is an artist, writer curator and educator. She focuses on Aboriginal women's stories and resistance with a visual practice, encapsulating research, art, memory and narrative realms. Her work centres Aboriginal women’s voices, activism, Sovereignty, and matriarchy and First Nations ways of being, knowing and doing. She has exhibited extensively over the last two decades. Paola is a Wemba-Wemba & Gunditjmara sovereign woman.
Katen Balla
Katen Balla is a proud Wemba-Wemba & Gunditjmara young man in his 3rd year Bachelor of Youth Work, Criminal Justice, Victoria University. Katen is also an Intern at the Aboriginal History Archive, Victoria University, researching impacts of racism in sport, and works as a Koori Youth Programs casual for the Nallie Jerring Indigenous Youth Leadership Program, Western Bulldogs Community Foundation. Katen is passionate about watching and analysing film and tv. Katen has appeared in short films, campaigns, television commercials and was part of the ‘Blak to the Future’ series at Footscray Community Arts (2018 — 2020) as an artist and MC.
Rosie Kalina
Rosie Kalina is a proud Wemba Wemba and Gundjitmara woman. Rosie’s background is in visual arts and curating, makeup artistry, community arts work and event producing. Rosie has engaged in multiple First Nations youth-led projects, such as co-curating the ‘Blak to the Future’ series at Footscray Community Arts (2018 - 2020). Rosie made her directorial debut in 2023 with ‘Tomorrow: the experience’ an experimental First Nations Fashion extravaganza, presented by YIRRAMBOI. Determined to create more culturally safe opportunities for young First Nations people in the arts, Rosie focuses on youth programming in her role within YIRRAMBOI. Rosie aims to ensure First Nations autonomy and excellence are at the forefront of every project she is part of, with the guidance of her Elders and community.
Artist statement
Artistic credits
Details
World Premiere
Presented by Arts House
Wednesday 24th June – Friday 17th July 2026
Mon – Sat, 10am – 4pm
Free exhibition
Warnings
a bit thing is suitable for all ages, with a family friendly and culturally safe environment. The exhibition contains references to colonisation and trauma.
Arts House
North Melbourne Town Hall
521 Queensberry St
North Melbourne
Wheelchair Accessible Quiet Space Available Assistance Animal Visual Rating 75% Aural Rating 50%Supported by –
This exhibition and program is an expression of Arts House’s Equity—Builder, where an artist-curator is handed over the keys, spaces and resources to lead a curatorial project in an effort to renew the relationship between the institution, independent artists and marginalised communities.
Image credit: Paola Balla, Sovereign Goddess Going to Eat You Up, from the series The Mok Mok Cooking Show II, 2016; image courtesy of the artist.
Image description: A person in heavy red eye makeup and floral headress licks a butter knife and stares into the camera.
