On Friday 1 May, I had the pleasure of attending the official launch of the 69th Blake Prize and the Blake Poetry Prize 2026 at Liverpool Powerhouse. For 75 years, the Blake Prize has held an important place in Australia's cultural landscape, encouraging artists and poets to explore themes of belief, spirituality, identity, and our shared search for meaning and connection. Congratulations to all finalists and this year's outstanding winners: Tarik Ahlip, winner of the Blake Art Prize for On Her Return (Facial Burns and a Garland of Flowers); Jennifer Kemarre Martinello, recipient of the Blake Acquisitive Art Prize for Painted Desert: Continuous Creation Story; Sary Zananiri, awarded the Blake Next Generation Scholarship for Crossing Seas and Following Stars; and Chen Wang, winner of the Blake Poetry Prize for The Woman Who Refused the Kingdom of Forgetting. Events like this remind us of the important role arts and culture play in bringing people together, challenging perspectives, and inspiring future generations of creatives across Australia.