To mark celebrations for Children's Week 2021, Northern Grampians Shire Council Mayor Cr Murray Emerson will launch an online art exhibition on Wednesday 27 October displaying children's art works from around the shire. Children's Week is held annually nationwide in October to recognise the talents, skills, achievements and rights of children. This year's theme is "Children have the right to choose their friends and safely connect with others", appropriately sourced from the United Nations Convention on Rights of the Child.
Due to Coronavirus restrictions limiting face to face participation, Council coordinated an art exhibition from photos submitted by email with a view to displaying the works in an online gallery with virtual reality capability. Victorian Government funding provided assistance with gifts for the children.
The art gallery location will remain concealed until Wednesday when Council will broadcast the location via its website, social media and town hall digital screens. The mayoral launch of the exhibition will commence at 1pm streamed to Council's YouTube channel. Cr Emerson will make mention of works that are excellent representations of the theme and conduct a mini tour of the art gallery.
Shire residents can borrow a limited quantity of VR goggles from Stawell and St Arnaud libraries to experience the full effects of the virtual reality features of the gallery.
Children across the shire were encouraged to celebrate Children's Week 2021 by creating a piece of art that represented one of the following themes:
- Active living
- Children have the right to choose their own friends and safely connect with others
- Healthy places
The art medium was unrestricted provided that the entry could be photographed and emailed to Council. The entries are very diverse ranging from drawings and paintings through to sculpture, digital art, collages and mixed medium.
The exhibition was open to any child up to 12 years inclusive who lives or attends services in Northern Grampians Shire and entries came flooding in from local kindergartens and primary schools. Council received a total of 129 artworks.
The art show has been divided into three separate gallery wings:
- Preschool and Prep
- Years One and Two
- Years Three and Four and Years Five and Six
Cr Emerson will select three favourite artworks that represent the chosen theme from each age group for special mention.
Cr Emerson said Children's Week is a wonderful opportunity to stop and reflect on the value that children bring to society. He also attached tremendous personal significance to this year's theme.
"My previous career in the police force has certainly cemented in my mind how important it is for children to be able to interact and explore their world freely and safely.
"There is nothing quite like art as a communication form for allowing adults to have an insight into a child's view of life too.
"I would like to thank every child who participated in this exhibition; their dedication to the theme is visible on every wall of the gallery and I am so impressed by it. It is a delight to experience, and I know this gallery will attract visitors far and wide in its online format.
"I would like to thank the Victorian Government for funding this event and supplying certificates and gifts for every child who participated," said Cr Emerson.
"I know our resident artists are going to be most appreciative of their awards."
