Media Release
Young women inheriting their culture
21 May 2008
A special celebration of Lajamanu student artwork will be held with a four day art exhibition opening in Darwin tomorrow and a traditional dance performance on Friday 23 May.
A group of about 18 female middle school students from Lajamanu Community Education Centre have been working since last August with traditional artists from the Warnayaka Art and Cultural Aboriginal Corporation.
While students have learned from older artists to express their culture creatively through painting their country and dreamings, they have also enhanced their traditional knowledge.
Department of Employment, Education and Training Chief Executive Margaret Banks said, “A key aspect of this exciting partnership has been the strengthening of bonds and cultural learning between the generations.”
In addition, the joint project has focused on developing employment skills with training in areas such as cataloguing, framing, and stretching canvases.
“By working with the art centre management and staff, students have learned many of the practical skills needed to work as an art assistant or a professional artist. Connections with the Art Centre have led to a job for one student recently,” Ms Banks said.
Traditional elders from the Warnayaka Art and Cultural Aboriginal Corporation consider this an important project that will help young people to take a more active role in their culture. They have included the students’ work in an exhibition of their paintings in Darwin.
The Warnayaka Art and Cultural Aboriginal Corporation’s inaugural Darwin exhibition will be on display at Darwin Entertainment Centre gallery from 22 - 25 May 2008 from 10am - 5.00pm daily.
The Young Women Inheriting their Culture project has been funded with support from the Australian Government.