Albany children discover the importance of local Noongar knowledge

Published by: Kayla MacGillivray | 7-Feb-2024
AWESOME Arts and Albany children explore visual arts techniques and storytelling!
Albany children discover the importance of local Noongar knowledge
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In Term 4 of 2023, AWESOME Artists Rae Cottam and Matt Ward travelled to Albany, on Mineng Noongar country, to explore local Noongar culture and wisdom with the students of Spencer Park Primary School.

The students tried pencil work, sketching, black line illustration and texturing, and watercolour painting and pencil techniques. They learned about the different steps taken in a creative process; from having the initial idea, to developing the idea along the way, to creating the final work.

Noongar stories were the foundation of the residency, with local Elders Aunty Vernice Gillies and Aunty Eliza Woods sharing important local stories about the Oyster Harbour Fish Traps and Bush Medicine, to teach the children about conservation, caring and connecting with Country.

The students enjoyed building on this foundation of local Noongar knowledge and new artistic skills, applying creative arts process methodologies to the development of unique comic strips and storyboard expressions. Some students even visited the Year 2 class and shared with their younger peers what they had learned about place, flora, fauna and arts practices.

The residency culminated in a celebration event, where children wrote thank you letters to the Elders, shared a delicious fruit platter, and received certificates for their outstanding achievements.

Creative Challenge is AWESOME Arts’ core education program that embeds contemporary teaching artists in schools across the state. The residency program aims to build pride in community and explore self-expression through project management and creative learning skills.

This residency was proudly supported by Healthway and the Go for 2 & 5 message.

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