Gondwana Youth Arts Project
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The Inaugural Gondwana Youth Arts Project has been engaging the youth in the South West in their local environment. This has been a cross disciplinary project where the Arts are the over-arching method to enhance student engagement, awareness of the rich landscape in the region, and provide a depth of educative experience for social networking – building skills and interest in the development of life-long learning.
Through the arts, students have been responding to the environment (observing and experiencing the ecosystems and biodiversity of the region) and Noongar Cultural heritage across the Gondwana Link (from Margaret River to Esperance). Selected students from communities in the southwest were invited to participate
Professional artists, scientists and Noongar cultural elders have been delivering structured programs acting as resources throughout the project.
Stage 1: Nowanup Bush Camp (May 18 - 20)
24 young participants from Ravensthorpe, Albany and Denmark attended a weekend camp at Nowanup (Sout East of the Stirling Ranges). The aim of the weekend was to build relationships between participating communities, to introduce and connect the students to the Noongar cultural heritage of this particular region and to inspire them with creative, artistic ways to connect with their own local environment. During the weekend, there were workshops and presentations from professionals working in the fields of arts and science, as well as presentations from Indigenous Elders.
Stage 2: (July - September)
Throughout this period, art workshops were run by local Albany artist Kate Pope, who worked with natural fibres and materials from the environment to create a series of maps. Participants were guided to draw inspiration from the natural environment, collecting organic materials to use in the development of their work.
James Gentle ran a music workshop with Denmark students, creating instruments from recycled objects, which were then used to create a series of soundscapes, responding to the natural elements.
In Ravensthorpe, community artists Gemma Jameison and Melissa Daw ran drawing and photography workshops, with Jo Mead engaging the youth in poetry and creative writing.
Nikki Green, as the coordinator has been liasing with the participating communities and the artists involved. She has also been providing support by means of connecting participants to creative networks, and visiting the communities involved.
The resulting artworks from Stage 2 were showcased in the Gondwana Youth Arts Exhibition, held at the Centre for Sustainable Living (CSL) in Denmark, between September 26 and October 11, 2009, as part of the Great Southern Art and Craft Trail.
Stage 3: Gondwana Youth Arts Expo (CSL, Denmark) (5 - 7 November)
The project culminated in a youth forum, when the groups gathered together for two days at the Centre for Sustainable Living (CSL), Denmark, to present and share their creative processes and outcomes. The Expo was an opportunity for youth to collaborate in a range of artistic workshops – all connecting to the local environment.
Workshops from local arts practitioners and Noongar elders covered a range of media from site-specific art installations, to digital film and photography, as well as creative writing and story-telling; music and dance. There were special presentations from local and regional schools, including an award winning presentation from Bridgetown District High School.
In 2010, we will be inviting a multi media artist to engage the participants in the ongoing documentation of this event with the aim of developing an online presence. This will enable the participating communities to continue communicating and exploring further opportunities.
Gondwana Youth Arts Project Artists and Contributors
Community Arts Network WA manages the Catalyst Community Arts Fund on behalf of the Stateof Western Australia through the Department of Culture and the Arts.
