Sacred Victoria is an initiative of the Faith Communities Council of Victoria (FCCV) that celebrates and preserves Victoria’s extraordinary religious and cultural diversity through professional photography and visual storytelling.
Using photography as its creative medium, Sacred Victoria is much more than a photography project. It is simultaneously:
- a social cohesion initiative, promoting understanding, respect and dialogue between communities;
- a cultural heritage project, preserving Victoria’s places of worship and living faith traditions for future generations;
- an educational resource, creating lasting resources for schools, researchers and the wider community; and
- an artistic project, producing exhibition-quality documentary and portrait photography that celebrates Victoria’s rich religious diversity.
Supported by Victoria’s peak and grassroots faith organisations, Sacred Victoria will become one of the most comprehensive visual records of religion ever created in Victoria.
Two Complementary Collections
Sacred Victoria consists of two interconnected collections that together document both the permanent and living expressions of faith across Victoria.
1. Sacred Places
Sacred Places will document approximately 100 places of worship across metropolitan and regional Victoria.
Each location will be photographed through a combination of architectural photography, documentary photography and environmental portraiture, capturing:
- places of worship and sacred architecture
- worship spaces and sacred objects
- faith leaders and community life
- the history, beliefs and traditions of each faith community.
Particular emphasis will be placed on documenting women and Indigenous faith leaders, recognising their important contribution to Victoria’s spiritual and community life.
2. Sacred Festivals
Sacred Festivals will document approximately 100 religious festivals and major sacred events celebrated throughout Victoria.
Rather than focusing on buildings, this collection will capture the living traditions of faith communities through ceremonies, prayer, music, dance, processions, food and celebration.
Together, these collections preserve not only where faith is practised, but also how it is lived and celebrated.
Why Sacred Victoria Matters
Victoria is one of the most religiously diverse places in the world. Yet there has never been a coordinated project documenting both its places of worship and its living faith traditions.
Sacred Victoria will create a permanent visual archive that preserves this important cultural heritage while strengthening religious literacy, encouraging intercultural understanding, and promoting social cohesion across our community.
Through powerful visual storytelling, the project will help challenge stereotypes, celebrate diversity, and build greater appreciation of the many faith communities that contribute to Victoria’s social and cultural life.
A Lasting Legacy
Sacred Victoria will create a permanent public resource through:
- approximately 200 professionally documented places of worship and sacred festivals
- a comprehensive online archive
- public photographic exhibitions
- educational resources for schools
- a coffee-table photography publication
- a lasting visual record of Victoria’s living faith heritage.
By preserving both the tangible and living expressions of faith, Sacred Victoria will create a cultural legacy that will continue to educate, inspire and connect Victorians for generations to come.