Harnessing youthful creativity

Art is all around: Ballarat artist and designer Travis Price with just a few of the more than 1000 artworks created by school students. Photos: ALISTAIR FINLAY

SOME of the nearly 1500 works of art created by pupils from nine Ballarat schools have gone on display at Delacombe Town Centre.

The pieces of art are part of a collaboration by Ballarat and District Trotting Club, the schools, the shopping centre and artist Travis Price, and tie into the upcoming Inter Dominion heat.

While Ballarat has a rich artistic culture, Mayor Cr Samantha McIntosh praised the opportunity for art to move out of the downtown core.

“It’s a more diverse way of our community looking at art,” she said. “Art is not just about our gallery in the middle of town.

“We’re very proud of art in Ballarat, but to see art extending so far across our municipality and even into shopping centres is a bit special.”

As part of the project, the nine schools
that took part went into the running for a
half-day workshop with Price.

Drawn out of a hat, the winner was Delacombe Primary School.

Price said his motivation for taking part as to help provide a chance for more art in the community.

“I thought it was a really good opportunity to get behind something that was a good cause, with getting kids into creativity and art,” he said.

Price also spoke highly of the artworks.

“It’s been really impressive,” he said.

“It’s a mix of things, because some of them could colour in, and some were free hand, and it’s been really nice. Even the colour in stuff you can see the use of patterns, and then the free hand stuff is just crazy.”

Price will also be at The Ballarat Trotting Club for the Inter Dominion on Tuesday, 4 December, completing a 21-meter-long mural at the Ballarat Trotting Club’s facility in Redan.

He’s not completely sure what he’ll be creating, but he’s narrowed down the options.

“I kind of want a little bit of everything,” he said. “Something that’s not overtly harness but also very Ballarat at the same time.

“Something that anyone can enjoy seeing.”

The students’ artworks will be on display in the Delacombe Town Centre for the next month in a space donated by Troon Group.