By Amra Pajalic
In a government school in the suburb of St Albans a group of passionate teachers have created an opportunity for young people to exhibit art in a professional gallery helping them to dream big about a career in the arts.
The vast majority of students in St Albans Secondary College come from non-English speaking backgrounds, covering 53 different nationalities. Within this community there is a mentality encouraging students to pursue careers in medicine and law, leaving the arts under-represented.
But the school’s Visual and Performing Arts Department, under the direction of Head Nick D’Aglas and teachers Della Butler, Michael Bowden, have played a vital role in fostering the creative abilities of its pupils by exhibiting their talents in a professional gallery setting for the first time.
The exhibition at Fortyfive Downstairs in the CBD, was more than just a display of student art; it was a celebration of the dedication of teachers who strive to create opportunities for their students.
“We have had a longstanding relationship with Fortyfive Downstairs and we were absolutely delighted to be invited, as the first state school, to exhibit in their gallery,” says Nick D’Aglas.
Being a part of such an esteemed exhibition serves as a springboard for many young artists to fulfil their aspirations. Year 12 student Andrew Le, whose “pieces came about through my penchant of pictures, especially those that depict candidness,” is drawn to representing “an unvarnished perspective of life and things around me.” He believes showing off his work and remaining receptive to criticism are important. “Depending on how it all pans out, it could make or break a dream if a young person realises this is the kind of thing they want to do further,” he says.
Emily Puppala, another Year 12 student, speaks about the difficulties of accepting her art and the value of comparing her progress with others. For her, the exhibition “supports the idea of exploring uniqueness, beauty, modern style and since I’m looking at product design it continues to look at other’s perspectives of designs.”
Navid Ali, who has been in Australia for four years, says the exhibition is“very important as it not only encourages us to learn more and get better” but also is an amazing experience to be a part of.
The Fortyfive Downstairs exhibition is testament to the possibilities that arise when educators and students work together to fuse creativity and cultural diversity. It serves as a potent reminder of what is possible when we support the arts and the dedicated educators who enable these possibilities.
It exemplifies the ability of creativity and education to bridge cultural gaps and provide young people the opportunity to dream and accomplish beyond their current circumstances.
Amra Pajalic is an editor, teacher and award-winning author
