This October, visitors to Sculptures in the Garden won’t just be invited to look at art — they’ll be invited to help create it.
My Kingdom for a Horse is a new collaborative community sculpture project that will see a herd of life-sized horses gradually emerge across the grounds of Rosby during the 16 days of Sculptures in the Garden 2026.
Professional artists, local school students, families, visitors and volunteers will work side-by-side, transforming steel horse armatures into large-scale organic sculptures using locally collected branches, sticks and natural materials.
Beginning on the opening day of SIG on Saturday 10 October, the herd will grow and change throughout the exhibition, with artist-led workshops taking place every day.
From spectator to sculptor
Initiated by Sculptures in the Garden Founder and Artistic Director Kay Norton-Knight, My Kingdom for a Horse has been inspired by the work of acclaimed Australian sculptor Stephen King and celebrates the beauty, strength and spirit of the horse during the Year of the Horse.
At the heart of the project is a simple idea: breaking down the traditional barrier between artist and audience.
Visitors don't need any previous artistic experience. They might add a single branch, spend an hour helping shape a horse, or return over several days to watch the herd develop.
Whatever their contribution, they become part of the artwork.
“We’re creating something extraordinary together. Whether someone adds one branch or spends several days helping shape the sculptures, they’ll become part of an artwork that belongs to the whole community.”
— Kay Norton-Knight
Led by artists, built by the community
Professional artists will lead hands-on sculpture-building sessions throughout the exhibition, sharing their skills and helping participants understand how natural materials can be used to create form, movement and structure.
Stephen King will lead the project over opening weekend, providing participants with the opportunity to learn from one of Australia's respected sculptors and a long-time Sculptures in the Garden exhibiting artist.
Local schools will also be invited to participate through a dedicated education program, giving students the opportunity to experience sculpture making, teamwork and creative problem-solving outside the classroom.
Even the foundations of the horses are a community effort. The steel armatures supporting each sculpture have been designed and fabricated by the Mudgee Men's Shed, ready to be transformed by hundreds of hands during the exhibition.
First, we need the sticks
Before we can build a herd, we need something to build it with.
On Sunday 13 September, the community will be invited to Rosby for Pick Up Sticks — a working bee with an artistic purpose.
Participants will help collect suitable fallen branches, sticks and natural materials from around the property while learning what makes a good piece of timber for sculpture.
The materials collected that day will become part of the horses created during SIG — meaning the community's involvement begins well before the exhibition gates open.
A legacy beyond the exhibition
Importantly, the story of My Kingdom for a Horse won't finish when Sculptures in the Garden closes.
The completed horses will be relocated and gifted for display at locations throughout Mudgee and the wider Mid-Western Region, extending the project beyond Rosby and allowing the community-created works to be enjoyed well into the future.
It continues one of the ideas at the heart of Sculptures in the Garden: that regional communities should not only have access to exceptional sculpture, but have opportunities to participate in its creation and see public art become part of the places in which they live.
Join the herd
My Kingdom for a Horse will run throughout Sculptures in the Garden 2026.
10–25 October 2026
Rosby Wines, Mudgee
Sculpture building daily from 11am
Exhibition open 10am–4pm daily
Entry to Sculptures in the Garden is $5 for adults, with children free.
My Kingdom for a Horse has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Festivals Australia program and is delivered in partnership with Mudgee Region Tourism. Sculptures in the Garden is proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.