Youth Crime Prevention Through The Arts Project
Project Officer Carly Jakutavicius began organizing the Gallery’s Youth Crime Prevention Through The Arts project from January 2008. Funding was first receieved from the National Community Crime Prevention Program, Federal Attorney General’s Department for a '24/7 Youth Arts Project'
High profile street artists were employed to visit the region and participate in professional art workshops with youth and mentor them, resulting in a twenty four hour street art project. Youth were provided with skills development and access to cultural activities not available locally. Youth were given the opportunity to display their work in a prominent city center location preventing graffiti through a legal avenue to show case work and prevention of other crimes through participation and reduction in boredom. The project sought to reduce anti-social activities through increased self-esteem and community pride. Artistic and creative pursuits of young people were met through engaging in the arts with redirection of illegal self expression toward positive community contributions. There was environmental enhancement of the city, increased confidence, self-esteem, recognition and a sense of achievement for those that participated.
Over forty local youths displayed their work on large boards in the Riddoch Art Gallery main street window giving them acknowledgement and encouragement in the arts. Research into youth needs was also conducted via survey work which has now become useful for other grant applications and also for other organisations in the region.
Further funding was obtained through Arts SA Community Arts Development Fund which resulted in the improved visualization of Dimjallah Skate Park and the AYAC wall at Pangula Mannamurna in December 2008. This provided youth once again with positive links to the community and results they could be proud of.
For ABC video footage of the project at Pangula Mannamurna please go here
Volcanoes - Layers of Meaning
Volcanoes – Layers of Meaning is an exploration through visual art of the layers of history, science & cultural meanings in Australia’s first Geopark ‘Kanawinka’. Developed by the Riddoch Art Gallery, the exhibition explores the unique volcanic landscapes of Western Victoria and the Limestone Coast of South Australia. It is part of an ongoing project exploring the many understandings of the region: geological, cultural, historical and artistic, and which in the future will include artist residencies, touring exhibitions and international exchanges.
The impetus behind the project includes the desire by regional art communities to recognize, interpret and value the work of artists who live and work regionally, and to develop opportunities for further significant development and interpretation of place: telling local stories, while developing national and international connections about this geologically significant volcanic landscape which we inhabit, recently recognized internationally through the proclaiming of the Kanawinka Global Geopark. Lucia Pichler, Director, Riddoch Art Gallery
“The development of our understanding, both physically and metaphysically, of the places in which we live is of vital importance. Artistic interpretation of place has much to offer a community in this regard, particularly when that art is grounded in knowledge and experience. The Volcanoes – Layers of Meaning art project gave seventeen artists a special opportunity to engage with the landscape with the assistance of experts in various fields. Such multi-layered viewing should make for an informative visual celebration when the works are exhibited and shared with others who seek to strengthen their ties with the places they call home.” Dr Carmel Wallace, 2008