Creative projects for memorial begin

WORKSHOPS in the Continuous Voices Arts Project are underway.

The activities are being facilitated by artists who have completed trauma informed arts practice training so they can work with survivors and their loved ones in the creative projects.

Incorporating song, sculpture, photography and other artistic mediums, the final outcomes of the creative workshops could be utilised within the design stages for a planned permanent memorial to survivors or sexual abuse.

The first workshop, titled Thinking About Memorials has already begun, with participants working with sculptor Eliza-Jane Gilchrist on ideas and concepts around a possible memorial sculpture.

Aiming to involve adult Ballarat-based survivors of sexual assault, to get involved with one or all the remaining workshops email [email protected].

Voices Like Yours is another workshop in the project and is lead by artists Robert House, Kaff-eine, Glenn Pearce and James Money. It’s a collaborative initiative that seeks to highlight the power of individual voices and stories.

Open to all, with no artistic experience necessary, the project is seeking artworks that provide a response or answer to the question, “What does your resistance look like?”.

Submissions for this project can be uploaded to the Creative Ballarat site until March.

For the third workshop, known as Finding Light, photographer Michelle Dunn is running a six-week course in the hopes of creating a printed and e-book with the resulting images.

Hoping to work with adult Ballarat-based survivors of sexual assault, the photography course seeks to guide participants to consider the way we understand light and how it can change the world around us.

To enquire about a space in the course visit the Creative Ballarat website.

Words Out is being run by musical and visual artists Paige Duggan, Geoff Hassall and George Williams who are joining forces to bring survivors of sexual assault and their family members the opportunity to write songs.

Participants will work in groups to construct songs and spoken word pieces that tell stories of their lives with the aim of strengthening and uplifting the community.

Book either a men’s or women’s session through the Creative Ballarat website.

Lastly, in Drawing Connections Rebecca Russell, Dotahn Caspi, Steph O’Hara and Silvana Izzo will provide contributing survivors of childhood sexual assault the opportunity to take part in an exploratory art project.

Throughout the sessions artists and participants will share their stories and together create an installation incorporating drawing, voice recordings, projected video and sounds. To book in for one or all the remaining sessions, email [email protected].

To find out more or to join a project, visit creativeballarat.com.au/continuousvoices and to donate to Blake Curran’s fundraising effort for the permanent memorial to survivors or sexual abuse visit au.gofundme.com and search for Ballarat Abuse Victims Memorial.

If you or anyone you know is dealing with issues resulting from sexual abuse help is available from CASA on 1800 806 292, Lifeline on 13 11 14, or 1800 Respect on 1800 737 732.