Koori Art Expressions exhibition launch

  • Category
    Education
  • Published
    15 December 2010
  • Read time
    2 minutes

The Koori Art Expressions exhibition was launched by dignitaries at the Australian Museum on the 1st December 2010. The exhibition will be open until 31st January 2011.

Koori Art Expressions Launch 1
From left: Frank Howarth (Director of the Australian Museum), the Honourable Linda Burney (New South Wales Minister), Dr Phil Lambert (Sydney Regional Director, Department of Education and Training) and Sheryl Connors (Manager of Indigenous Programs, Australian Museum) at the launch of the Koori Art Expressions exhibition in December 2010. Image: Stuart Humphreys
© Australian Museum

The exhibition was launched by Frank Howarth, (Director of the Australian Museum), the Honourable Linda Burney (NSW Minister) and Dr Phil Lambert (Sydney Regional Director, Department of Education and Training).

Students were delighted to attend the launch of the exhibition and to see their works displayed in a cultural institution. The young artists proudly showed and interpreted their artworks to their family and the esteemed guests.

The Sydney Region Aboriginal Education Unit of the Department of Education and Training runs a professional development program for teachers about Aboriginal art and culture. The teachers then take their skills back to the classroom and support their students in creating artworks for the annual competition.

Koori Art Expressions
The artwork created by Emily at Matraville Sports High School for the Koori Art Expressions exhibition 2010. Image: Jane Stanley
© Department of Education and Training

The artworks are displayed at cultural institutions and this year the Australian Museum is pleased to host the exhibition for the first time.

The theme for this year's exhibition is 'Unsung Heroes-Closing the Gap by Leading Their Way', which gives students the opportunity to express their understanding and appreciation of the NAIDOC (National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee) Week topic in 2010.

Students created the artworks after considering the many unsung Aboriginal and Torres Strait people who have made huge contributions to Australian society. Unsung Heroes recognises achievers, from the past to the present day.

On the night of the launch some parents said that they knew nothing about Aboriginal art or culture until their children came home and reported what they were doing at school.