We Are Studios, a 100 per cent disability-led and run artist studio in Western Sydney, has been named this year’s Local Project of the Year at the 2025 Sydney Awards.  

Ebony Wightman, Co-Founder of We Are Studios, said: “We have all experienced the barriers that artists and people with disability feel in being part of the world, and we need to make sure that our stories are part of the cultural landscape and that they are valued.” 

“Our artists are all incredibly talented with beautiful stories to tell, but they’ve never had the platform for someone to allow that.”   

Established in 2023, We Are Studios has made that happen, with work by the studio’s artists featured at key cultural institutions, and their advocacyand leadership for Deaf and disabled artists and Western Sydney driving real policy change.  

They operate out of a temporary studio space in Blacktown where the artists come together to brainstorm, create and support each other.  

Liam Benson, Co-Founder of We Are Studios, describes this as the soul of their community: “I love it when everyone comes through the door in the morning and is greeted with gusto. We get to come into the studio and create some great art, but we get to do it with our fellow artists, our peers, those people who truly understand us,” he said.   

The Committee for Sydney’s Local Project of the Year Award, supported by Australian Unity, celebrates those working in the community to make Sydney a little better every day.   

Eamon Waterford, CEO of the Committee for Sydney, said: “What the team at We Are Studios have achieved in just two years is phenomenal, with work showcased at major institutions from Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre and Hawkesbury Regional Gallery to the Art Gallery of NSW and the Biennale of Sydney.”  

“It’s extraordinary to see the way they’ve made space for artists to feel valued and to tell their own stories – sometimes for the first time in their lives – and then to be celebrated for their talent. They’ve demonstrated that a disability-led studio can not just create powerful artistic work, it can change lives.”  

Lisa Chung AO, Chair of Australian Unity, said: “We Are Studios exemplifies the vision, ingenuity and determination of people who see a need in their community and step forward to address it, reminding us that meaningful change often starts close to home, and that when we work together, the ripple effect can be profound. 

Professor Leonie Tickle, Executive Dean of Macquarie Business School, said: “We Are Studios is a powerful example of what’s possible when disabled artists lead the way – creating space, opportunity and a vibrant creative community built on lived experience and collective vision.” 

While Liam is a paid employee of the studio, Ebony and third co-founder Jordan Valageorgiou have created and run We Are Studios without taking a salary. Their mission extends beyond themselves and is about recognising, celebrating and ensuring the stories of those with disability live on.   

Jordan Valageorgiou, Co-founder of We Are Studios, said: “We need a permanent space to operate out of. We want to see a landmark disability arts centre, based in Western Sydney, right here in Blacktown, to capture a moment, a community and the most wonderful artistic progression we can see coming.”   

Designed to celebrate people whose efforts make Sydney the greatest city in the world, there are five categories: Sydneysider of the Year, Young Sydneysider of the Year, Project of the Year, Local Project of the Year, and Unsung Hero.. 

The judging panel for the awards included:  

• Kate Russell, CEO of Supply Nation  

• Chris Minns, Premier of NSW  

• Beau Neilson, Owner and Operator of The Vanguard  

• Mark Speakman, NSW Liberal Leader  

• Usman Iftikhar, CEO of Catalysr  

• Gabrielle Trainor AO, Pro Chancellor of Western Sydney University  

• Professor Leonie Tickle, Executive Dean of Macquarie Business School  

• Nicholas Hansen, Deputy Editor of The Daily Telegraph 

• Christine Covington, Consultant and Head of Gender Equality at Corrs Chambers Westgarth 

• Gail Connolly PSM, CEO of City of Parramatta.  

The Sydney Awards are supported by major partner Macquarie Business School, media partner The Daily Telegraph, and award sponsors Aurecon, Australian Unity, Aqualand, Coles, Endeavour Energy and KPMG.