Wagga Wagga City Council is celebrating this week with both the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery and the Wagga Wagga City Library, tasting success at recent state-wide awards for excellence.
The Art Gallery won the prestigious Engagements Programs Award (Medium Organisations Category) at the 2024 Museums and Galleries of NSW IMAGinE Awards in Sydney on Thursday 21 November, for its Green 2023: Year of Environmental Exhibitions and Programs.
The library received the Multicultural Excellence Award in the Regional/Rural Library Services category at the recent SWITCH Annual Conference, hosted by the NSW Public Libraries Association (NSWPLA) in Coffs Harbour.
The state-wide IMAGinE Awards highlight the resilience, innovation and creativity of museums, galleries and Aboriginal cultural spaces and recognise the people who work in them.
The judging panel praised GREEN 2023 for positioning the gallery and the artists that were part of this program, at the "forefront of community reflection and discussion on the climate induced environmental challenges we face as an agricultural region, and as a global community".
Art Gallery Director Dr Lee-Anne Hall said the judges applauded the innovative, integrated programming and extensive community partnerships achieved by the gallery throughout 2023.
"This award recognises the hard work, creativity and commitment of the people who designed, implemented and contributed to GREEN 2023," Dr Hall said.
"GREEN 2023 featured 20 exhibitions, with associated programs throughout the year, as well as held workshops for children, teenagers and adults that explored waste and sustainability, single-use plastic and upcycled material."
The Multicultural Excellence Award received by the library was in recognition of its exceptional multicultural library services, specifically the establishment of the Wagga Wagga Multicultural Youth Group in partnership with STARTTS (NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors).
The Multicultural Youth Group is comprised of young people from diverse refugee backgrounds aged 18-24 years old. The Group is youth-led, with sessions planned and organised in consultation with participants.
This approach facilitates opportunities for participants to engage in many incidental interactions with a range of community members. These spontaneous exchanges allow participants to use vocabulary and grammar in a natural setting, enhancing their fluency and comprehension of English.
Library Services Manager Christine Bolton was delighted to receive the award on behalf of Wagga Wagga City Library.
"It is a credit to our Outreach Services team for their advocacy and commitment to providing multicultural services," Ms Bolton said.
"An unexpected positive outcome has been the bridges built between participants, their families, communities, and the library. Many participants have introduced their families and friends to the library services and programs."
STARTTS Youth Worker Kellie Chapman said the award "celebrates not just a fabulous project, but the power of community collaboration.
"It's an honour to join with the Wagga Wagga City Library to create a space where multicultural youth can thrive and we can all learn from each other."
