S PR ING/S U MME R 2021― 22
Art & Community
Local primary school students recently teamed up with architects to co-design a welcome space for First Nations peoples in the MRAG grounds. Indigenous students from six local primary schools recently had the opportunity to work with architecture students from the University of Newcastle to co-design a First Nations landscape space for the Gallery grounds. This community project, generously funded by Rotary Sunrise and the University of Newcastle, forms part of the Gallery’s objectives over the next five years for inclusive programs and infrastructure.
by their teachers and collaborated with a team of architecture students for over a week in the MRAG workshop spaces and adjoining garden. The students engaged in storytelling, shared ideas about what makes a place special, made dioramas, gathered objects, and explored the Gallery’s garden space. They then developed concept plans and small-scale models, some of which incorporated bush tucker, landscaping structures and the use of beautiful natural materials, as part of the lead-up to making larger models on-site.
The first phase of this project was led by Professor SueAnne Ware, Head of the School of Architecture at the University of Newcastle. Students from each school’s Aboriginal Education Consultative Group were accompanied
An open day was held following this codesign process, with visitors – including architects, landscape contractors and community guests – invited to view the 22
