The City of Hobart is proud to support the launch of SOAPBOX. This new work is a bold public art project celebrating queer youth visibility, freedom, and community across lutruwita/Tasmania.
SOAPBOX features a series of striking billboards conceived and developed with young people from OutSpace, a program for LGBTIQA+ youth aged 15–18. OutSpace is facilitated by Dan Howard (Working It Out) and co-facilitated by Maggie Edwards (The Link/Headspace). It is also supported by Opal Hackett and Corey Stephen. It provides young people with a safe and affirming space for connection, creativity, and expression.
The SOAPBOX project was led by Xris Reardon (YARC, Project Lead and Key Creative), who worked alongside OutSpace young people including to shape the vision, hold space for their voices, and ensure their ideas were carried through with integrity. Visual artists Kay Kudleka and Will, and input from Kylo who responded to the youth-led brief, with creative mentorship from artist-mentee-producer, arts facilitator, Dexter Rosengrave.
SOAPBOX reflects the courage, vision, and creativity of OutSpace members, who shared their insights and experiences to bring the project to life. Their voices remind us of the importance of visibility, community, and the right of queer youth to take up public space. The City of Hobart acknowledges and thanks all the young people, artists, and collaborators who made SOAPBOX possible, including RANT Arts, YARC, and the wider community of supporters.
SOAPBOX is more than a series of artworks, it is a ultimately a declaration of presence: queer youth speaking, creating, and making visible their presence in public.
Acknowledgements
This project was made possible thanks to funding from the Australian Government's Regional Arts Fund, Regional Arts Network Tasmania, and YARC.
We also thank the in-kind support from City of Hobart, The Link, Pulse Youth Health Service, Working It Out, and YARC.
Most importantly, we thank the young people from OutSpace and all the queer young people in our communities who may sometimes feel isolated or alone. You are not – we see you.


