Planting seeds of creativity in our artists of tomorrow, Birds of a Feather and Inspire will be exhibiting at the Tuggeranong Arts Centre this month.
This week, students from Bonython Primary School have been busy working with staff at Tuggeranong Arts Centre to curate and install the school’s new exhibition, Birds of a Feather.
The exhibition celebrates the collaboration of school and community, highlighting the Arts Centre’s commitment to building meaningful relationships with the community of the Tuggeranong Valley.
Bonython Primary is not the only school working closely with the Arts Centre to deliver hands-on learning opportunities either. Later in September, the Centre will welcome St. Mary MacKillop College for their annual student exhibition Inspire, which is now in its fourth year of being presented at TAC.
TAC CEO Rauny Worm says, “engaging local children and youth in arts programs is central to TAC’s mission and 2018 has been a particularly strong year in this regard.
In March and April, we welcomed school students from across the ACT to engage in a wide range of public programs, competitions and tours as part of the Another Day in Paradise exhibition. In September our galleries will be filled with the wonderful work of students from Bonython and St. Mary MacKillop. In October, a new interactive exhibition by artist Anne-Marie Jean will cater exclusively to infants and toddlers. And this year we are also celebrating the joint 18th birthdays of TAC’s signature programs for youth, Messengers and Fresh Funk.”
Focusing on bird life, the Bonython Primary exhibition features works by students in all year levels and is full of colour and texture, celebrating the creativity and curiosity of young people.
By working closely with Arts Centre staff, the project has given the Years 5/6 Student Arts Leadership group an opportunity to learn about curating spaces to publicly display art.
The students involved have been guided through processes of selecting and grouping works, the laying out of gallery spaces, and hanging and installation methods.
Bonython Primary School Students installing work in Birds of a Feather.
Bonython Primary School’s Acting Principal, Marc Warwick, says the school’s new motto: ‘Learning with Purpose and Passion’ underpins the belief that students learn best when there is meaning, context and high levels of engagement and empowerment.
It’s a belief that Ms Worm shares, saying, “there’s no better way to give every child a taste of success than through the arts. We’ve enjoyed seeing the students learn and approach challenges and we are grateful that schools like Bonython show the initiative to work collaboratively with the Arts Centre.”
For the students, one of the key elements of this contextual learning will be seeing visitors to the gallery experience the exhibition and admire the work on display. Staff and students alike hope that audiences will visit the Centre throughout September to see these vibrant exhibitions.
Birds of a Feather, installation view, 2018
Bonython Primary School’s Birds of a Feather will open at Tuggeranong Arts Centre at 6 pm on Thursday 6th September and continues until Friday 28th September.
Inspire by students at St. Mary MacKillop College will open at 6 pm on Thursday 20th September and continues until Saturday 29th September.
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