Collective Vessels is the result of a participatory art and photography project aiming to discover if the community halls in small rural towns foster a sense of belonging.

Included in this book are personal anecdotes from a gathering held at the Cheshunt Hall in rural northeast Victoria, facilitated by artist and photographer Linda Lees. Participants made small vessels from clay whilst sharing stories and memories of times spent in the hall. People are more relaxed, and conversation flows more readily when their hands are busy. These narratives are accompanied by Lees’ series of photographs of the interior of many of the region’s halls. Depicting no people, yet their presence is tangible.

Using a collaborative method, Collective Vessels demonstrates the importance of the halls to small-town communities. They are a place where residents can meet, socialise, learn, be entertained, celebrate, commemorate, and mourn. They are a vital asset in times of emergency and a venue that allows the community to connect.