Joeys students inspire inclusive art

STUDENTS at St Joseph’s College Geelong have inspired the creation of a new inclusive artwork that will eventually be hung in the college’s newest building.

Students in the college’s weekly Inclusivity Lounge group devised some concepts and worked with artist Jae Rose, who painted the piece featuring colours and hand gestures representing everyone in the college community.

The college’s head of wellbeing programs Isabelle Gann said the Inclusivity Lounge had several ongoing initiatives, and the artwork was one of them and driven by the students.

“The Year 12 students involved in art really liked the idea of something that had an expressive artwork, and they knew there was going to be a new building built, that was dedicated to including everyone and increasing our visibility for both allyship and our LGBTIQA+ young people. So it actually came from the kids.”

She said the St Joseph’s students’ vision for the artwork was “really, really close” to what Rose eventually produced.

The artwork was unveiled during this year’s International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) and will be hung in the Arts and Learning precinct once the redevelopment is complete.

St Joseph’s College Geelong principal Tony Paatsch said the artwork project was part of a long-term commitment from the college about inclusion.

“It got going maybe 30 years or so ago with a commitment to challenging homophobia in the school, and it’s kind of grown from there to these kind of projects.”