Year 9 students from St Albans Secondary College have participated in a project to create temporary public artwork as part of RMIT University’s 2024 SmArts program.
The SmArts program is part of The Smith Family charity’s evidence-based learning and mentoring programs, aimed at nourishing a young person’s educational journey through creative arts.
RMIT has worked in close partnership with the national children’s education charity to bring to life its latest project ‘Tables, we need more tables.’
RMIT educator Grace Leone said the project was inspired by exploring the Triennial exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria and the United Nations sustainable development goals.
“… students engaged with creative techniques to reflect on and develop a public artwork that responds to the theme of a table as a signifier of power and control,” she said.
Each student drew inspiration from the featured works of more than 120 artists, designers and collectives at the forefront of global contemporary practice before taking part in a number of creative workshops focused on digital and analogue methods to develop their artwork.
Students immersed themselves in four days of workshops over a four-week period, exploring the theme within the context of sustainability and climate change, reflecting on their experience, desire for change and reimagining the future.
Works were unveiled at the Hunt Club Community And Arts Centre in Deer Park where they will remain on public display, and visible to passing motorists along Ballarat Road, throughout April.
Jack is one of a growing number of students learning how art can influence the way they view the world around us, all the while discovering important pathways to future work and study.
“Art has always been an influence in my life,” he said.
“What I’ve loved about the program is having the chance to tap into some new creative process, producing pieces of work for a portfolio – which I’ll need for work and study – and getting a look into the types of opportunities available to further my passion once I finish high school.”
Brimbank council deputy mayor Jae Papalia said working collaboratively with The Smith Family and RMIT on the project had opened new doors for students to engage with their local community and helped them build new skills and learn about post-school pathways.
“It has been a great opportunity for local school students to explore and be connected to their local arts centre and build on their networking and creative skills. We’re pleased to be able to display these artworks to the Brimbank community,” she said.
The Smith Family Victorian general manager Anton Leschen said SmArts has been an essential program in helping students from disadvantaged backgrounds build on their artistic skills while learning about important pathways from high school to further training and education and career opportunities.
“For a young person experiencing disadvantage, the opportunity to taste what life could hold for them post-school, while being supported to help achieve their goal, can be life changing,” he said.
