Loneliness affects as many as one in three people living in residential aged care. It’s a statistic that Southern Cross Care is determined to address, and this year’s SA Living Artists Festival exhibition is part of the response.
Together at the Torrens brings thousands of handcrafted butterflies into collaborative artworks, created by residents and clients across Southern Cross Care’s 16 South Australian residential care homes, Dementia Respite Cottage groups, and community-based art classes.
The exhibition coincides with Loneliness Awareness Week 2026, which carries the theme ‘Make room for connections’. And connections are exactly what these workshops have fostered.
“Our residents have connected even more deeply this year with their families and friends through these collaborative workshops, with stories of up to four generations coming together to craft their unique butterflies,” says Southern Cross Care Chief Executive Officer David Moran.
“This year our Dementia Respite Cottage clients have also been able to benefit from the program, participating in workshops with their carers to create a shared experience that can be truly cherished.”
The symbolism is deliberate. A single butterfly is beautiful. A gathering of them is something else entirely.
“On their own, the butterflies are beautiful, but in a group they are magnificent,” Mr Moran says. “This whole exhibition symbolises that together we are better.”
Visit the exhibition
The exhibition runs from 4 to 6 August, 10am to 4pm daily, at the Torrens Parade Ground Drill Hall, 1 Victoria Drive, Adelaide. Entry is free, parking is free, and there’s an onsite cafe.
The venue has been chosen specifically for accessibility, and all 16 of Southern Cross Care’s South Australian care homes are coordinating visits for residents. By registering the exhibition as a Loneliness Awareness Week event, the organisation hopes members of the public will also come along to connect with residents and see the work firsthand.
“Loneliness is a serious issue facing older Australians and this exhibition is our way of saying that every person in our community matters,” Mr Moran says.
SALA Festival activities at Southern Cross Care are supported by the Southern Cross Care Community Foundation, which works to address loneliness and isolation among older people through initiatives funded by donations and sponsorships. More information is available at southerncrosscare.com.au/community-foundation.
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