Author: Debbie Brittain

Design Tracks Creative Pathways Program is a three-day residential program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander secondary students from Queensland schools. Hosted annually by QAGOMA Learning, ‘Design Tracks’ brings together students from metropolitan, regional and remote locations who work alongside guest mentors from the Creative Industries. The program provides participants with an immersive experience that enables them to develop skills and build confidence within a peer-led environment. The students explore creative practices, gather inspiration and discover new perspectives as they work together on a creative project.

In 2020, ‘Design Tracks’ looked a little different due to COVID-19 restrictions. The program was delivered virtually with students from seven schools — Foxwell State Secondary College (Coomera), James Nash State High School (Gympie), Nambour Secondary College, Meridan State College (Caloundra), Toowoomba State High School, Brisbane School of Distance Education and St Ursula’s College (Toowoomba).

The virtual workshop ‘Pigment and Paper: Explorations in Poetry and Art’ involved papermaking, poetry and writing and creating pigments to develop personal responses to NAIDOC Week theme ‘Always Was, Always Will Be’. The students developed creative pieces using a kit of materials supplied by QAGOMA Learning. Guest mentors included artist Dale Harding — Bidjara, Ghungalu, Garingbal (Central QLD), artist and designer Jenna Lee — Larrakia, Wardaman (NT) Karajarri (WA), and author and poet Ellen van Neerven — Mununjali Yugambeh (SE QLD). 

Debbie Brittain is Project Officer QAGOMA Learning

Foxwell State Secondary College Visual Art teacher, Jody Swader and Head of Inclusion, Victoria Leadbeatter explain their students’ experience of 2020 ‘Design Tracks’.

‘You may have heard that Design Tracks was a little different for everyone in 2020 but as a Foundation School this was our students very first chance to engage with the program…and it didn’t disappoint. The different delivery mode afforded our young students with the opportunity to be a part of this unique and exciting program, helping them build connections with older students and role models through the online learning platform.

With growing anticipation and enthusiasm of the program starting our students received their resource packages from QAGOMA, which gave them a glimpse into the culturally meaningful and engaging program that lay ahead. Through Paper, Pigment and Poetry our students explored their own connection to country and experimented with different modes of expressing themselves.

Visiting QAGOMA in 2021 as a culminating event was a first time to a gallery for some of our students and they were awestruck as they were able to tour the exhibition of Gordon Bennett and see Dale Harding’s artworks. Three Foxwell students were honoured to be chosen to work with David Williams from Gilimbaa to voice record the combined poetry piece created by all students.

The Design Tracks program was certainly an incredible opportunity for our young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, giving them an unforgettable experience to work alongside established Indigenous Australian creative artists and mentors, and to be inspired by the Creative Industries. Through the Design Tracks program, our students learnt the importance of connecting today with yesterday and tomorrow, and how they can use creativity as a means of sharing and celebrating culture.’

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Acknowledgment of Country
The Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which the Gallery stands in Brisbane. We pay respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past and present and, in the spirit of reconciliation, acknowledge the immense creative contribution First Australians make to the art and culture of this country.

It is customary in many Indigenous communities not to mention the name or reproduce photographs of the deceased. All such mentions and photographs are with permission, however, care and discretion should be exercised.

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‘Design Tracks’ is an annual residency program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander secondary students from across Queensland.  Hosted by QAGOMA Learning, the 2019 program recently offered 21 students from Far North, Central and Western Queensland, as well as South-East and metropolitan locations rich opportunities to work alongside established Indigenous Australian creative mentors.

The program, now in its fourth year, encourages participants to feel inspired by the Creative Industries and to perhaps consider their own future career pathways. The students spent an immersive 3-days in Brisbane, collaborating, exploring, designing, learning and experiencing together. Four students share their thoughts about 2019 ‘Design Tracks’.

Debbie Brittain is Project Officer, Learning, QAGOMA

RELATED: Design Tracks

Jamaya (Bundaberg)

“I had an amazing ‘once in a lifetime’ experience. I explored behind the scenes of the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art and the steps exhibition organisers had to work through to display the story of famous artworks.

I was put into a team with new friends and talented mentor Grace Lillian Lee. I was so excited to meet with Grace, as she is one of the most incredible Indigenous fashion designers and weavers of wearable body art. Our task was to create a place in the cultural precinct that weaves together art, language and space. After a full first day of planning and processing ideas, we went for a walk through Fish Lane, and saw displays of amazing Indigenous art and restaurants.

Day 2 was more of a resolving day. Our group ‘The Backups’ considered each other’s ideas and decided to create a project that included common themes that weave through art, language and space. Later that evening, we were taken to Griffith University and explored the courses they offered and met more famous mentors. After that we went behind the scenes of the Bangarra Dance performance and explored before-and-after a performance – it was mind blowing.

Day 3 was a busy day, getting our ideas into pieces of work and organising our presentations. At the end it all came together and we were very proud of ourselves. This was an amazing program and I would recommend every Indigenous art student to explore this opportunity. Let’s make it a week’s program.” Jamaya

RELATED: Grace Lillian Lee: Island Fashion

Latasha (Rockhampton)

“Being able to experience art being used in a real life context, sold the idea that art can provide a viable career pathway for me.  I was fortunate enough to spend time with other aspiring, like-minded, Indigenous students who shared my passion for art, at the Gallery of Modern Art.  The Program, a three-day residential camp, involved Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander senior secondary students coming together with other Cultural Centre precinct partners to work with Indigenous Australian mentors.  Along with 20 other students from years 10 to 12 we were exposed to design, print-making, textiles, visual art and architecture.

For a student from a regional area who has never really experienced Brisbane, it was a valuable exercise in seeing creative opportunities in action and opening my eyes to where my art can take me.  It was refreshing to be placed with a group of young Indigenous people who wanted to be there and work towards a common goal.

One idea that will always resonate with me, as explained by one of my mentors, is that any art created by me is Indigenous art, simply by the fact I am Indigenous and I created it. I would highly recommend this program for any aspiring Indigenous artist.” Latasha

Ishy (Cherbourg)

“The experience was an eye-opener for me as a young Indigenous male getting to spend time at the gallery. I really enjoyed working with the mentors, looking at artworks and meeting other Indigenous students from different schools.” Ishy

Brooke (Bundaberg)

“The Design Tracks Program at the Gallery of Modern Art was an amazing experience and I’m so proud to have been a part of it. The program as a whole was insightful, educational and inspiring, especially the half-day round table mentor experience. It opened my eyes to all the possibilities in the world of Indigenous art. I networked, made contacts and lifelong friends in an industry I am passionate about and wish to pursue into the future. It gave me an insight to the running of GOMA and other art galleries as well as seeing what happens behind the scenes in the life of a curator, artist, performer or a member of the conservation and storage teams. I learnt so much about life as a professional in the art world. It was an amazing experience working with the mentors over the three days to create our project and was an honour to be selected for such an amazing program.” Brooke

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Acknowledgment of Country
The Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land upon which the Gallery stands in Brisbane. We pay respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders past and present and, in the spirit of reconciliation, acknowledge the immense creative contribution Indigenous people make to the art and culture of this country.

Feature image: Students worked creatively to develop a response to the brief ‘create a place in the Cultural Precinct that weaves together language, art and story’ / Photograph: Chloe Callistemon © QAGOMA

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