what do you pray for?

“I pray for...” is a participatory public art activation that invites you to anonymously respond to this single, powerful question.

Located in a prominent public space during Melbourne Fringe, this large, open-access wall becomes a canvas for community expression—written, drawn, or scrawled in the moment. You don’t need to be an artist, and you don’t need to be religious. “Prayer” can mean a wish, a grief, a hope, a protest, or a blessing.

Each morning, the wall is wiped clean. Each day, it begins again.

Designed by interdisciplinary artist Gav Barbey, this activation will explore how a single prompt can spark thousands of honest, vulnerable, and surprising responses. Over the course of the festival, “I pray for...” becomes a daily ritual, a living archive, and a temporary sanctuary for shared humanity.

Supervised and accessible to all ages and abilities, the space encourages reflection and connection in the middle of the everyday. Whether you contribute once or return each day, your words join a chorus of anonymous voices capturing what matters to people—right now—in our city.

No booking needed. Just come by. Read. Write. Witness. Contribute.

Look out for the next location coming soon….