YO Bendigo partnered with the Arts Officer - First Nations, Michellie Charvat to deliver the First Nations Youth Mural project. Last weekend on Saturday October 11, we were incredibly proud to finally unveil the mural in Chancery Lane that was painted as part of the project.
The project aimed to support young First Nations people who are interested in pursuing a creative career to develop and share their creative skills and learn how to translate their art into a career. Three young First Nations women, Terri Flaherty (Wurundjeri), Makaylah Tresize (Taungurung) and Shoshanna Love (Mangala) were selected to participate in the project.
Over 3 workshops, participants connected with other local artists and creatives and learnt technical, creative and business skills that will support them in their future creative careers. Workshop content included public art legalities, risk management, paints and materials for outside art, concept and design development and cultural protocols.
Participants selected the theme of the mural together, choosing 'shared identity' as the concept linking their individual pieces together in the group mural they designed. They then installed their mural in Chancery Lane across 5 days.
Terri, Makaylah and Shoshanna worked incredibly hard to pull together their mural, sharing stories and creating friendships at the same time.
The final product is a beautiful work of art that showcases young Aboriginal talent and stories, with each participant's part of the mural telling their own individual stories at the same time.
On Saturday, Terri, Makaylah and Shoshanna were joined by the project leads, Michellie and Chelsea and their family, friends and supporters at a very special unveiling and celebration event. The girls symbolically opened the gate into Chancery Lane for guests to see the mural for the first time, before providing a short speech each and ceremoniously signing their names on the mural. This was followed by a celebratory brunch in the Bendigo Library gardens together to recognise the hard work of each of the participants in the project.
"Creating this mural has definitely been a change not only in my art career but my life. meeting new people and facing new challenges was the best part"
Each participant received a certificate, a special jumper and $250 artist payment.
We wish Terri, Makaylah and Shoshanna all the best on their next creative adventures, equipped with the experience of participating in YO Bendigo and Bendigo Venues & Event's First Nations Youth Mural project.