Visual Arts

🏳️‍🌈 From Gallery to Stage:  A Glimpse into Darling Boy 🏳️‍🌈

On Friday 5 June, our Standout and LGBTIQA+ Allies community attended a preview performance of A Glimpse into the Darling Boy at the Bowery Theatre in Melbourne near Sunshine. This visual art meets performance stage production was an exploration of queer identity, showing the audience how important it is that queer stories are told. Through stunning stage imagery and emotionally charged storytelling, our students were moved by this compelling, intimate and painterly theatrical experience.

A Glimpse into Darling Boy was created by Nathan McGlynn alongside co-writers Charlee Brooks and Hugo Williams. Nathan is a former Belmont High School student, celebrated Melbourne artist and gallerist whose creative journey began in our T Wing corridors. Immersed in our Arts program back in 2017, he studied VCE Studio Art and Media before going on to complete an Advanced Diploma of Visual Arts at RMIT, forging a career as a practicing artist. He is the founder and director of Changing Room Gallery, an artist-run Melbourne exhibition space dedicated to platforming new and unseen talent, making art accessible and inclusive, built on his belief that art should never feel impenetrable and that every voice deserves to be heard.

Nathan has never forgotten where he came from, returning to our school over the years to present art awards and open the annual Arts and Technology Exhibition, a testament to his commitment to the Belmont community that nurtured him.

His striking figurative paintings, inspired by impressionism and his experience as a young gay man, centre around his muse the 'Darling Boy'. The Darling Boy is the lens through which this performance examines queer identity, desire and care, brought to the stage by its talented cast: Brandon Bartholomewsz as the seductive sax-playing antagonist, Freya Pragt as the queer mentor Pia, and Brendan Fahey and Jackson Rotherford as the Darling Boys. The character Pia is inspired by Nathan's former Art teacher and mentor Pia DeBruyn, who took him under her wing, a nod to the lasting impact an exceptional teacher can have on a young person's life. 

A post-show Q&A gave students the opportunity to learn about Nathan's creative process and his journey since graduating high school. He spoke warmly about the Belmont High School Arts program and the teachers who encouraged him, and our students responded in kind with thoughtful, enthusiastic questions.

The quote of the day said it all: "That was so good, I want to watch it again and again!"

Nathan shared fond memories of his time at high school, recalling how the breakout room between Art rooms T12 and T13 became so much his own that it was known as 'Nathan's Bedroom'.  How he lorded over the T Wing with such presence and personality that he earned the affectionate title of Lady McGlynn. As tribute, his school shoes still remain nailed to that same wall that became known as his second bedroom.

Seeing a past student thriving in Melbourne's arts scene, and having our students witness that firsthand, was an inspirational reminder of what's possible. The talented Nathan McGlynn is proof of where resilience, passion, and the right environment can take you.

Thank you to Belmont High School for advocating for our LGBTIQA+ young people through the Safe Schools initiative, Rebecca Calvert for leading and supporting our Standout community, and the wellbeing team for funding the day. A very special thank you to our Standout students and Allies for joining us for an unforgettable performance celebrating queer love and relationships.

Kirsty Zahra.

Top Arts 2026 – NGV Australia

13 March – 19 July 2026

Showcasing the outstanding creativity and dedication of emerging artists across Victoria, Top Arts returns to The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, now in its 32nd year. Selected from over 1,100 applicants, this year’s exhibition celebrates the exceptional talent of 43 students who have excelled in the VCE subjects Art Making and Exhibiting and Art Creative Practice.

Belmont High School’s Visual Arts Department has done it again! Since 2020, seven Belmont High students have been selected as finalists across six exhibitions at the NGV Australia (NGVA) at Federation Square, with a further three students shortlisted for this prestigious exhibition. This year we have two students exhibited.

On Thursday 12 March, Visual Arts staff Kirsty Zahra and Megan Cantwell attended the opening event with exhibiting artists Poppy Nivarovich and Shaun McKearney, along with their respective families. It was an exciting evening and a fantastic way to begin the Visual Arts season of excellence.

This achievement highlights the outstanding creativity, dedication and artistic talent of our students, as well as the strength of the Visual Arts program at Belmont High School.

Free Youth Art Group in Torquay

LGBTQIA+ young people and allies with an interest in art, creativity and connecting with like-minded peers are invited to attend a free weekly youth art group in Torquay.

Run by local artists from Them Humans, this welcoming and inclusive space provides opportunities for young people to explore creative ideas, experiment with materials, and engage in conversations about art and creative pathways.

Location: The Light Box, Torquay

Time: Fridays, 4:00pm – 5:30pm

Ages: 14–24

Cost: Free

Sessions are flexible and student-driven, ranging from hands-on workshops (such as jewellery making and small art objects) to collaborative art activities and informal discussions. Students can also gain insight into pathways in the arts, including exhibiting, curating and working as a professional artist.

This is a valuable opportunity for students to build confidence, develop their creative practice and connect with the local arts community.

For more information:

https://www.themhumans.org/

Instagram: @finglesin

Facebook: Them Humans Inc