Indigenous inspiration for art project

Nicola KalmarBroome Advertiser

Sat, 10 December 2016 10:54AM

A group of Broome students have helped shine a cultural spotlight on their school after participating in an indigenous art project aimed at promoting inclusion and reconciliation.

Students at Roebuck Primary School recently engaged in the project run by its cultural awareness action team, which formed earlier this year.

It is one of five action teams at RPS and was established to help youth extend their knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture.

The art project was led by Djugun/Yawuru woman and artist-in-residence Sammy Wyborn, who helped students look at contemporary indigenous paintings before they were given the chance to create their own indigenous-inspired artwork.

Participants were also mentored by team leaders, teacher Danielle Sukys and Aboriginal and Islander education officer Marika Daniele.

Ms Daniele said part of the team’s plan was to showcase the cultural spirit in the school and help make RPS a “visual and culturally inclusive” school to foster a culturally inclusive learning environment.

She said the students had embraced the project.

“I find it quite amazing how they’ve taken to this through the form of art where they probably would never get a chance to experience this and to do a dot painting ... through that, they’ve learnt why indigenous people paint the symbols they do and the meanings that come behind it.”

The artworks will go on permanent display in the front office.