Dianne Morris’s Black Lullaby Experience Selected for ArtPlay’s New Ideas Lab

L-R: Baby participant and grandmother, Dianne Morris, NIASHA (Music Director) and Baby participant’s mother

We’re proud to share that Dianne Morris’s project, The Black Lullaby Experience, has been chosen as one of only four projects selected for the City of Melbourne’s 2025/2026 ArtPlay New Ideas Lab.

ArtPlay’s New Ideas Lab provides a unique opportunity for artists to propose and develop new projects in collaboration with children and families. Each year, just a handful of innovative concepts are selected to take part in this development program, with a focus on creativity, community, and meaningful engagement.

This year’s selected projects are:

• Amaze-ing Brain by Louisa Bufardeci, Ya Hui Hung and Manroshan Dhillon

• Seen and Heard by Julie Ritchey and Dr Jodie Rottle

• The Black Lullaby Experience by Dianne Morris, NIASHA, Kwamena Brace and Louis Majiwa

• Undertow by Briony Farrell, Sue Giles, Youbi Lee and collaborators

The Black Lullaby Experience will see Dianne and her collaborators bring together storytelling, sound, and cultural expression to create a powerful, immersive project that explores connection, care, and resilience through the lens of African diasporic experiences.

This selection recognises Dianne’s ongoing commitment to inclusive storytelling and her passion for creating spaces where children, families, and communities can connect with care and culture.

Stay tuned for more updates as The Black Lullaby Experience develops at ArtPlay later this year.

Image credit: Darren Gill