The annual Swell Sculpture Festival is back on the Gold Coast and it's helping launch the careers of artists with disabilities.
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00:00As the sun rises on the Gold Coast, incredible art begins to emerge.
00:07For 10 days, more than 60 sculptures from 350 artists will dominate Corumban Beach.
00:14But one piece has a difference.
00:16I don't want people to think that it's made by people with disabilities,
00:19I want them to think that it's made by artists.
00:21Fiona Haynes runs Monte Lupo Gallery.
00:24It employs 16 artists living with a disability.
00:27Every single person in the studio creates or is crucial to the final piece.
00:33For the past four years, the gallery has given Miles Barabas a paycheck and a creative outlet.
00:39I have a strong work ethic and I don't really want to be lazy and not work.
00:48With 150,000 visitors expected, Swell Sculpture Festival is a big opportunity.
00:54Ten years ago, renowned artists Clayton Blake was just getting started.
00:59You really don't feel worthy, you suffer from an extreme case of imposter syndrome.
01:04His work has since made it to Burning Man, the largest outdoor sculpture festival in the United States.
01:11Swell for me is an incredibly transformative festival.
01:15It was really what launched me internationally.
01:18But it's not just for professional artists.
01:21Valerie Jones won last year's Swell Festival while balancing full-time work and two young kids.
01:27The art world can be quite pretentious and exclusive and there is absolutely none of that here.
01:33She says anyone can follow in her footsteps.
01:37It has completely given me this opportunity to express my ideas and thoughts.
01:43While for many artists Swell has been a career gateway to bigger and better things,
01:48for others it's just a chance to show off a bit of creative flair.
01:53I'm just happy to see it at the moment getting purchased.