Youth Crime Prevention Through The Arts Project
Project Officer Carly Jakutavicius began organizing the Gallery’s 24/7 Youth Arts Project from January 2008. Funding for the project was received from the National Community Crime Prevention Program, Federal Attorney General’s Department.
In May 2008, two street art workshops were conducted by high-profile street artist KAB101, who travelled from Adelaide. Nine ‘at-risk’ youth participated in the workshops which resulted in increased confidence, self-esteem, community participation and re-direction towards legal avenues of expression.
A public mural is available for viewing at Macs Auctions as a result of the youth participation. Board work was also conducted during the workshops and this was placed on a rotating basis in the Gallery’s street window display. This gave youth a legal avenue to show case their work.
Over forty other local youths displayed their work in the street window giving them acknowledgement and encouragement in the arts. Research into youth needs was also conducted via surveys. This will now become useful for other grant applications and also for other organisations.
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