NEXT GENERATION SPEARHEADS Salt celebrations

Salt Contemporary Art gallery is celebrating their 15th birthday this April and have invited 15 local school children from St Aloysius, Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff primary to be guest curators.

Queenscliff gallery Salt Contemporary Art is celebrating their 15th birthday this April and have invited 15 local school children to be guest curators for a special exhibition.

Gallery director Fiona Kelly said the children will select their favourite Salt artists’ works for the show which will run March 29 until April 14 in ode to the next generation of art lovers.

“We saw this anniversary as a great opportunity to involve local schools in the work of the gallery. Even if we spark a love of art in just one child, it’s a real reward,” she said.

“Inviting students to explore the process of choosing and displaying a range of different art works exposes them to the broad spectrum of contemporary work that we show here.

“It is a way of both de-mystifying the role of a gallery in the community and encouraging an appreciation of art as a way of enriching our lives and commenting on the world and society we all share.”

Five students from three local primary schools – St Aloysius, Point Lonsdale and Queenscliff – were selected thanks to a particular interest in visual arts.

The children will visit the gallery to view, discuss and select works, and will assist in curating the anniversary exhibition.

Salt Contemporary Art has carved its own niche to become a cultural hub in Queenscliff, with locals and visitors dropping by regularly to see their everchanging exhibitions.

Mrs Kelly said in 15 years, Salt has held over 200 exhibitions, both solo held over 200 exhibitions, both solo and group shows including bi-annual exhibitions of Indigenous art.

“Altogether, we have shown the work of over 500 artists and we are proud of the long-term relationships we have with our artists.”

Salt also initiated an art competition open to all students of the three participating schools, to design a 15th birthday card, used to promote Salt’s birthday and the exhibition curated by the schools.

Salt Gallery is located at 33-35 Hesse Street Queenscliff, for more information go to salt-art.com.au.