6 – 8pm

Join ACCA and Monash Art, Design and Architecture (MADA) in celebrating the launch of collaborative publication, The Second Studio: Drawing on Contemporary Art in the Gallery.

The launch event will celebrate the role of drawing as an engaging, accessible, and impactful learning resource and tool within gallery settings. The session will explore the ways drawing prompts provide tangible experiences for teachers, students, and visitors of all ages to interact with art on a personal level, fostering deeper connections with the works, their themes, and the gallery itself. The publication is the result of an ongoing collaboration between ACCA Education and MADA, demonstrating how drawing can serve as a bridge to greater engagement with contemporary art.

The evening will commence with a panel conversation between program collaborators from ACCA and MADA, followed by a Q&A and a hands-on drawing workshop. This informal session will take place during the exhibition Julius von Bismarck: This is not the storm.

PANEL MEMBERS

• Amélie Scalercio – Lecturer, Coordinator of Drawing, MADA, Monash University
• Andrew Atchison – Artist and educator at Monash, RMIT and Swinburne Universities
• Dr Rosslynd Piggott – Artist and tutor, MADA, Monash
• Lauren Simmonds – Artist Educator, ACCA

ORDER OF PROCEEDINGS
5:30pm: Arrive to view exhibition and mingle ready for a 6pm start
6 – 7pm: Celebration of launch/snacks and panel conversation followed by Q&A
7 – 8pm: Drawing in the gallery with Amélie Scalercio and Lauren Simmonds, using the publication as a tool

There will be opportunities for Q&A and light refreshments.

This event is in partnership with the Monash University Fine Art Department.

WHERE: Held at ACCA

This event is open to the general public, teachers and educators at all levels.

This is a free event and registration is recommended.

BIOGRAPHIES

Amélie Scalercio is an artist, educator, and academic whose research focuses on drawing as a method of inquiry across a range of contexts. She develops and teaches programs in the Department of Fine Art at Monash University that explore drawing and its expanded possibilities.

Andrew Atchison is an artist who works across sculpture, drawing, curation, writing and education. A central exploration within his practice relates to how sculpture can characterise spaces, both public and private, and how those spatial dynamics can be further manipulated. His conceptual interests include queer identity formation, language, public space, refusal, and the interplay of pleasure and intellect in art. He is represented by LON Gallery, Melbourne. 

Rosslynd Piggott is one of Australia’s leading contemporary artists. Her work explores the material thresholds of painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, glasswork and installation, enlisting a sophisticated technique and acute sense of colour. Piggott has been the subject of major solo exhibitions at institutions in Australia and overseas, including the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. She is represented by Sutton Gallery Naarm/Melbourne. 

Lauren Simmonds is an artist who has worked in the arts as a curator and installation technician and educator. Often developing and delivering public programs to partner exhibitions with an educational focus. She works at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art where she coordinates and facilitates a wide range of education programs for children, schools, and teachers. Simmonds’ practice crosses drawing, sculpture and installation to create immersive kinetic installations that are part sculpture and part performance.

ABOUT THE PUBLICATION

The Second Studio: Drawing on Contemporary Art in the Gallery
The publication showcases a broader understanding of how exhibitions can function as immersive and activated learning environments. By inviting students, teachers, and the broader community to participate in hands-on drawing activities, we will open up new possibilities for interpretation and deeper engagement. The publication positions drawing as a pedagogical methodology for the encounter with art through observation and interpretation, encouraging gallery visitors to become active participants in the learning process. In doing so, it reframes the act of viewing as an embodied and interpretive practice, enabling deeper, more meaningful and creative engagement with artworks.

The free publication includes insightful contributions from Amélie Scalercio Lecturer, Coordinator of Drawing, MADA, (Monash University) and Lauren Simmonds, Artist Educator, ACCA.

AITSL Australian Professional Standards for Teachers addressed:
6.4 Undertake professional learning programs designed to address identified student learning needs.
2.1. Apply knowledge of the content and teaching strategies of the teaching area to develop engaging teaching activities.
6.2 Participate in learning to update knowledge and practice, targeted to professional needs and school and/or system priorities.

1 – 4pm

Join us for an engaging Professional Learning session designed for VCE Art and Visual Communication Design educators. Gain practical insight into exhibition design and installation practices, whilst deepening your understanding of preventative conservation within a contemporary gallery context.

Through direct engagement with current gallery practice, participants will explore the ways exhibitions are conceptualised, planned, and realised within a non-collecting institution. The session will unpack the presentation and display of artworks, and the materials, methods, and processes involved in professional installation. Teachers will also learn about preventative conservation strategies, considering how the care and preservation of artworks informs display decisions and audience engagement.

Led by Samantha Vawdrey, Senior Exhibitions Manager & Registrar, ACCA, this session offers valuable insight into the relationships between artists, curators, and institutions, supporting the development of students’ understanding of the art industry, professional practices, and the exhibition process. This professional learning opportunity provides practical and transferable knowledge to support classroom delivery.

This session is aimed at secondary teachers and art educators who would like to strengthen their knowledge of the installation process, particularly those delivering VCE Art Making and Exhibiting Units 3 & 4 (Area of Study 3) and Unit 2 (Area of Study 1). This informal session will take place during the exhibition Julius von Bismarck: This is not the storm.

There will be opportunities for Q&A and light refreshments.

Learning Outcomes

• Analyse and apply key concepts from VCE Art, particularly in relation to exhibition-making and professional practice. 
• Explain the processes involved in curating, designing, and installing exhibitions within a contemporary gallery context. 
• Evaluate the role of preventative conservation in shaping exhibition decisions and audience engagement. 
• Apply appropriate analytical frameworks to interpret and discuss artworks and exhibitions in alignment with VCE assessment criteria. 
• Develop strategies to support students’ understanding of the relationships between artists, curators, and institutions. 
• Translate industry practices into classroom context to enhance student learning and achievement across VCE Units 1–4 outcomes.

WHERE: Held at ACCA

TICKETS
This a closed event for all Australian Teachers, Educators and pre-service Teachers.

Student Teacher $20 + GST
Teacher $25 + GST

Regional teachers, we’re pleased to be offering a limited number of free spots! To secure a limited free ticket please email ACCA Education here, and tell us a little about yourself and your school community.

AITSL Australian Professional Standards for Teachers addressed:
6.4 Undertake professional learning programs designed to address identified student learning needs.
2.1. Apply knowledge of the content and teaching strategies of the teaching area to develop engaging teaching activities.
6.2 Participate in learning to update knowledge and practice, targeted to professional needs and school and/or system priorities.

4.30 – 7.30pm

The first session in the series will be led by ACCA’s Senior Curator and Head of Exhibitions, Dr Shelley McSpedden. This session is designed to highlight McSpedden’s curatorial process, exploring artist selection and how a central theme, artwork placement, and exhibition design contribute to a compelling exhibition. It will also consider how collaboration between artists, curators, and exhibition designers influences the final outcome. The session will discuss spatial planning, floor plans, lighting, display choices, and how curation can enhance the impact of an artwork.

This session is aimed at secondary teachers and art educators who would like to strengthen their knowledge of the curatorial process, particularly those delivering VCE Art Making and Exhibiting Units 3 & 4 (Area of Study 3) and Unit 2 (Area of Study 1). This informal session will take place during de-installation and will feature insights into the planning of the upcoming exhibition Julius von Bismarck: This is not the storm.

There will be opportunities for Q&A and light refreshments.

Learning Intentions:
* Considering how artworks are prepared for installation. 
* Further teachers’ knowledge and understanding of the arts industry, including the roles and responsibilities of curators, arts specialists, and exhibition-making. This includes:
– How to research and prepare for an exhibition.
– How works are selected and how exhibition spaces impact exhibition design.
– Understanding the importance of building rapport and connections with artists when curating.
– Learning about the process of liaising with artists, private collectors, institutions, and galleries.

WHERE: Held at ACCA

TICKETS
This a closed event for all Australian Teachers, Educators and pre-service Teachers.

Student Teacher $20 + GST
Teacher $25 + GST

Regional teachers, we’re pleased to be offering a limited number of free spots! To secure a limited free ticket please email ACCA Education here, and tell us a little about yourself and your school community.

Recommended for Secondary Visual Art Teachers and Student Teachers

BIOGRAPHY

DR SHELLEY MCSPEDDEN

Shelley McSpedden is Senior Curator and Head of Exhibitions at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA), Melbourne. Prior to joining ACCA, she was Senior Curator and Acting Artistic Director at Shepparton Art Museum (SAM), where she oversaw the development of the inaugural exhibition program and major commissions for the launch of the new purpose-built, landmark museum in 2021. Shelley has also held curatorial roles at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), Monash University Museum of Art (MUMA) and National Exhibitions Touring Support (NETS), as well as academic appointments at Monash University and RMIT. She has written extensively on contemporary art and edited several art publications. Shelley holds a PhD from the Art History and Theory program at Monash University.  

AITSL Australian Professional Standards for Teachers addressed:
6.4 Undertake professional learning programs designed to address identified student learning needs.
2.1. Apply knowledge of the content and teaching strategies of the teaching area to develop engaging teaching activities.
2.4 Demonstrate broad knowledge of, understanding of and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and languages.
6.2 Participate in learning to update knowledge and practice, targeted to professional needs and school and/or system priorities.

5 – 6.30pm

Join the ACCA team for a special event, celebrating the end of the teaching year and launching ACCA’s 2026 artistic program. We are thrilled to be joined on the night by ACCA’s Artistic Director, Myles Russell-Cook and ACCA Education as we share our upcoming exhibition and learning programs. This informal, celebratory session will be a wonderful opportunity to ask questions about the upcoming program, experience our current exhibition Tschabalala Self: Skin Tight and chat to other educators

We look forward to supporting you and your students learning in 2026. Join us in celebrating the end of the year and the exciting programs ahead. Light refreshments will be provided.

Learning intentions

• Connect curriculum expectations with creative practice in real-world teaching
• Support teachers planning and research by providing insights into the artists and exhibitions to strengthen curriculum links.
• Highlight future programming and how it can be integrated into primary and secondary classroom practice to enrich learning.
• Build confidence in how contemporary art can support student understanding of visual language and conceptual thinking.
• Support teachers to critically reflect on their own practice and student learning.

Where: ACCA

Tickets: Free or by donation

Recommended for Primary and Secondary Visual Art Teachers and Pre-Service Teachers are also welcome.

BIOGRAPHY

Myles Russell-Cook commenced in the role of Artistic Director & CEO of ACCA in 2024 and was formerly Senior Curator of Australian and First Nations Art at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). Myles has a long-standing interest in cultural, gender and sexual diversity within both Australian and International contemporary practice, and has worked across a broad range of exhibitions and projects. For over eight years Myles was one of a team of curators who oversaw major contemporary art exhibitions at the National Gallery of Victoria, including NGV Triennial, and Melbourne Now.

Born and raised in Naarm/Melbourne, his maternal Aboriginal ancestors come from the lands of the Wotjobaluk people, and throughout his career he has lived and worked in various communities throughout Australia. Recently Russell-Cook’s curatorial work has led him to spend significant periods of time in North-East Arnhem Land, The Kimberley, and throughout the Torres Strait.

A key figure in driving new developments and initiatives in First Nations art both locally and internationally, Russell-Cook reintroduced First Peoples art back to the ground floor of The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia with the launch of Wurrdha Marra, and is the curator behind the recently announced exhibition The Stars We Do Not See: Australian Indigenous Art, the largest ever travelling exhibition of First Peoples Art from Australia, set to open in October 2025 at the National Gallery of Art, Washington DC.

Recommended for Primary and Secondary Visual Art Teachers and Student Teachers

AITSL Australian Professional Standards for Teachers:
Standard 2: Know the content and how to teach it
(2.1) Apply knowledge of the content and teaching strategies of the teaching area to develop engaging teaching activities.Standard 6: Engage in professional learning
(6.2) Participate in learning to update knowledge and practice, targeted to professional needs and school and/or system priorities.
(6.4) Undertake professional learning programs designed to address identified student learning needs.Standard 6: Professional Engagement
Standard 6: Professional Engagement
(7.4) Engage with professional teaching networks and broader communities

4.30 – 7.30pm

Join artists Geskeva Komba and Ruth Nyaruot Ruach in this unique workshop as part of our series of teacher professional learning programs coinciding with the exhibitions, rea: claimed & Tourmaline: Transcendent.

The Story beyond the Screen, is a practical, hands-on workshop designed for teachers, using film as a creative and reflective tool to explore representation and wellbeing. Drawing on African proverbs, poetry, and prose, participants will actively engage in viewing, discussion, and making to examine how stories shape identity, care, and nurture. Using storyboarding as a key teaching strategy, participants will explore how oral traditions can inform contemporary filmmaking and storytelling, while reframing representation within media. The workshop includes participatory activities that offer adaptable classroom strategies to support creativity, critical thinking, and wellbeing through film-based learning.

Learning intentions

• Develop new skills to support student creativity and wellbeing in the classroom.

• Explore how personal, cultural, and social influences shape identity and impact creativity.

• Adapt and apply African proverbs, poetry, and prose to inform personal and classroom-based art and film-making.

• Explore the application of art elements and principles (such as colour and light) in relation to film.

• Engage in conversation around how stories in film can convey cultural values, wellbeing and individual and collective identity.

• Connect curriculum expectations with creative practice in real-world teaching

• Build confidence in creative experimentation with materials and techniques to support student understanding of visual language and conceptual thinking.

• Reflect on how the skills and insights from this workshop can be integrated into primary and secondary classroom practice, allowing students to explore their own expressive approaches to poetry, film and visual art.

• Support teachers to critically reflect on their own practice and student learning.

Where: ACCA

Tickets:

Student Teacher $20 + GST
Teacher $25 + GST
Free for regional teachers

Recommended for Primary and Secondary Visual Art, Media, Drama and in-school Wellbeing Practitioners. Pre-Service Teachers are also welcome.

Regional teachers: we’re pleased to be offering a limited number of free spots! To secure a limited free ticket please email ACCA Education, and tell us a little about yourself and your school community.

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

Next In Colour

Established in 2018, Next In Colour originated from the collaborative efforts of six African community arts practitioners under the initiative known as ‘Colouring Between the Lines.’ Today, this pioneering entity is led by co-founders Geskeva Komba and Ruth Nyaruot Ruach and has since evolved into a contemporary community arts organisation dedicated to sharing the transformative power of arts and creativity to empower and drive change.

Next In Colour work across the creative industries, academia and community engagement connecting the community with opportunities and leading co-designed workshops and events.

Recommended for Primary and Secondary Visual Art Teachers and Student Teachers

AITSL Australian Professional Standards for Teachers:
Standard 2: Know the content and how to teach it
(2.1) Apply knowledge of the content and teaching strategies of the teaching area to develop engaging teaching activities.Standard 6: Engage in professional learning
(6.2) Participate in learning to update knowledge and practice, targeted to professional needs and school and/or system priorities.
(6.4) Undertake professional learning programs designed to address identified student learning needs.Standard 6: Professional Engagement
Standard 6: Professional Engagement
(7.4) Engage with professional teaching networks and broader communities

5.30 – 8.30pm

Join sisters Fatuma and Laurinda Ndenzako, collaborators, textile designers and the brains behind Collective Closets in this vibrant workshop coinciding with our new  exhibition, Tschabalala Self: Skin Tight.

In this engaging workshop, Collective Closets will guide participants through the vibrant world of textile storytelling, with a focus on African fabric culture. Participants will delve into the rich history behind Shuka patterns, uncover the deep connections between artisans and their craft, and explore how contemporary fashion incorporates these traditions.

Participants will have the opportunity to create dynamic mixed-media artworks, blending fabric samples with collage materials to express their own creativity. This hands-on program invites teachers to explore the powerful intersection of art, culture, storytelling, and textiles, offering a fresh, creative approach to connecting with students.

This workshop is part of our series of teacher professional learning programs and is open to teachers and the general public.

Learning intentions

• Connect curriculum expectations with creative practice in real-world teaching
• Build confidence in creative experimentation with materials and techniques to support student understanding of visual language and conceptual thinking.
• Research how traditional and contemporary fashion practices can inform personal and classroom-based art-making.
• Explore the application of art elements and principles (such as pattern, texture, and composition) in relation to textiles and visual artwork.
• Engage in conversation around how textiles and collage can convey symbolic meanings, cultural values, and individual identity.
• Support teachers to critically reflect on their own practice and student learning
• Explore how personal, cultural, and social influences shape individual style and impact creativity.
• Reflect on how the skills and insights from this workshop can be integrated into primary and secondary classroom practice, allowing students to explore their own expressive approaches to textiles and visual art.
• Support teachers to critically reflect on their own practice and student learning

Where: ACCA

Tickets:

General Public: $25
Student Teacher $10 + GST
Teacher $15 + GST
Free for regional teachers

Recommended for Primary and Secondary Visual Art Teachers. Pre-Service Teachers are also welcome.

Regional teachers: we’re pleased to be offering a limited number of free spots! To secure a limited free ticket please email ACCA Education, and tell us a little about yourself and your school community.

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

Collective Closets

Founded in 2016 by sisters Fatuma and Laurinda Ndenzako, Collective Closets emerged from a vision to create something unique in Australia’s fashion landscape: a brand that celebrates the vibrant textiles of Africa whilst speaking to the modern Australian woman. Born in Melbourne with a deep appreciation for slow fashion, they bridge continents and cultures through thoughtfully crafted clothing that carries meaning in every thread.

Their journey began with the iconic Maasai Shuka, whose bold patterns and rich cultural significance captured their imagination and became the cornerstone of their design philosophy. As African-Australian designers, they bring an authentic perspective to this cultural dialogue, creating collections that open conversations, challenge perceptions, and showcase the sophistication of African textiles in contemporary fashion.

Their philosophy is genuine: create enduring pieces that make women feel seen, understood, and beautiful. Every garment they design is crafted with intention, made for women who value both artistry and purpose. They have grown from an intimate family story into a label that authentically connects the creative spirit of Africa with Australia’s contemporary fashion landscape.

This is fashion with meaning. This is Collective Closet

Recommended for Primary and Secondary Visual Art Teachers and Student Teachers

AITSL Australian Professional Standards for Teachers:
Standard 2: Know the content and how to teach it
(2.1) Apply knowledge of the content and teaching strategies of the teaching area to develop engaging teaching activities.Standard 6: Engage in professional learning
(6.2) Participate in learning to update knowledge and practice, targeted to professional needs and school and/or system priorities.
(6.4) Undertake professional learning programs designed to address identified student learning needs.Standard 6: Professional Engagement
Standard 6: Professional Engagement
(7.4) Engage with professional teaching networks and broader communities

5.30 – 8.30pm

Join artist Badra Aji in this unique life drawing workshop coinciding with the exhibition, Tschabalala Self: Skin Tight. 

The drawing workshop invites participants to re-engage with drawing through a fresh and expressive lens. Designed to move beyond traditional likeness, the session focuses on the quality, character, and emotional depth of line. Through a mix of guided exercises and open exploration, participants will experiment with line, contour, and mark-making—embracing the human form as a catalyst for personal interpretation rather than technical replication.

Participants will be encouraged to tap into their own visual language, discovering new ways to translate observation into expressive forms. Whether refining existing skills or seeking new approaches, this workshop provides a rich space for creative risk-taking and artistic growth.

This workshop is part of our series of teacher professional learning programs and is open to teachers and the general public.

Learning intentions

• Connect curriculum expectations with creative practice in real-world teaching
• Build confidence in creative experimentation with materials and techniques to support student understanding of visual language and conceptual thinking
• Strengthen technical skills in the use of drawing materials and techniques to communicate personal or expressive interpretations of the human form.
• Explore the application of art elements and principles (such as line, texture, and composition) in relation to the human figure.
• Explore how personal, cultural, and social influences shape the way we draw and interpret the human figure to support teachers to lead rich, research-informed teaching strategies.
• Reflect on how the skills and insights from this workshop can be integrated into primary and secondary classroom practice, allowing students to explore their own expressive approaches to life drawing.
• Support teachers to critically reflect on their own practice and student learning

Where: ACCA

Tickets:

General Public: $25
Student Teacher $10 + GST
Teacher $15 + GST
Free for regional teachers

Recommended for Primary and Secondary Visual Art Teachers. Pre-Service Teachers are also welcome.

Regional teachers: we’re pleased to be offering a limited number of free spots! To secure a limited free ticket please email ACCA Education, and tell us a little about yourself and your school community.

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

Badra Aji

Badra Aji works primarily with drawing and video. He uses his practice to contemplate his life experiences, creating work which becomes the tangible artefact of this process. Drawing from his own experience of immigrating to Australia, Aji purposefully positions the viewer as an outsider by creating a disjuncture between imagery and language. Poetic and rich in personal symbolism, his work is instilled with political undertone. 

Aji graduated from the VCA with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drawing and Printmaking in 2016 and has been actively exhibiting since. His work has been recognized nationally through major art prizes, including being a finalist in the Ramsay Art Prize, the Dobell Drawing Prize, and the Paul Guest Prize, as well as receiving the Majlis Travelling Scholarship.

Recommended for Primary and Secondary Visual Art Teachers and Student Teachers

AITSL Australian Professional Standards for Teachers:
Standard 2: Know the content and how to teach it
(2.1) Apply knowledge of the content and teaching strategies of the teaching area to develop engaging teaching activities.Standard 6: Engage in professional learning
(6.2) Participate in learning to update knowledge and practice, targeted to professional needs and school and/or system priorities.
(6.4) Undertake professional learning programs designed to address identified student learning needs.Standard 6: Professional Engagement
Standard 6: Professional Engagement
(7.4) Engage with professional teaching networks and broader communities

1 – 3pm

Join Curator Nur Shkembi and ACCA Education for this rare Teacher Professional Learning session that explores Shkembi’s curatorial practice through a deep dive into the exhibition Five Acts of Love.

This session is designed to highlight the curatorial process, exploring how a central theme, the selection and placement of artworks, and the design of viewer interaction and interpretation contribute to a compelling and cohesive exhibition. It will also consider how collaboration between curators, exhibition designers, and conservators—through thoughtful spatial planning, lighting, display choices, and the preservation of artworks—can enhance both the impact and integrity of an exhibition.

This session is aimed at Secondary Teachers and Art Educators who would like to strengthen their knowledge of the curatorial process, in particular those delivering VCE Art Making and Exhibiting. This informal session will feature a tour of Five Acts of Love with opportunities for Q & A and light refreshments.

Learning Intentions: 

• Build confidence in exploring First Nations art, culture, history, religion and truth-telling in the classroom.
• Further teachers’ knowledge and understanding of the arts industry, roles and responsibilities of curators and arts specialists and exhibition making. This includes:
  – How to research and prepare for an exhibition.
  – How works are selected and how an exhibition space impacts exhibition design.
  – Understanding the importance of building rapport and connection with artists when curating.
  – Learn about the process of liaising with artists, private collectors or institutions/galleries.
  – Consider how artworks are prepared for installation.
• Develop an awareness of the diversity of practices including First Nations art and other cultures both local and international.

WHERE: Held at ACCA

TICKETS
This a closed event for all Australian Teachers, Educators and pre-service Teachers. Light refreshments will also be provided at the event.

Student Teacher $20 + GST
Teacher $25 + GST

Regional teachers, we’re pleased to be offering a limited number of free spots! To secure a limited free ticket please email ACCA Education here, and tell us a little about yourself and your school community.

Recommended for Secondary Visual Art Teachers and Student Teachers

BIOGRAPHY

DR NUR SHKEMBI OAM

lives and works on Wurundjeri Country VIC
born 1972, Christchurch, Aotearoa/New Zealand 

Nur Shkembi is an award-winning curator, writer and art historian with a research specialisation in Islamic art history, contemporary art and postcolonial theory. Nur has produced and curated over 150 events, exhibitions and community engagement projects and was part of the core team which established the Islamic Museum of Australia. As a museum curator, Nur brought together artefacts, traditional art and contemporary art as a means for collective storytelling, subverting stereotypes and as a provision for the individual narrative. Nur is currently working on a new museum project in Western Sydney, due to open in 2028.

Exhibitions include Soul Fury, Bendigo Art Gallery, DOMINION, Arts West Gallery, The University of Melbourne, and Destiny Disrupted, Griffith University Art Museum. Recent academic publications include ‘Neo-Orientalism and the persistence of Holbein carpets: on writing the future history of Islamic art in Australia’ in What is postnational art history?, Perimeter Editions and ‘Destiny Disrupted: A History of Contemporary Islamic Art in ‘Australia’’ in Variations, Monash University Press. 

Nur holds a PhD in Art History from The University of Melbourne.

AITSL Australian Professional Standards for Teachers addressed:
6.4 Undertake professional learning programs designed to address identified student learning needs.
2.1. Apply knowledge of the content and teaching strategies of the teaching area to develop engaging teaching activities.
2.4 Demonstrate broad knowledge of, understanding of and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and languages.
6.2 Participate in learning to update knowledge and practice, targeted to professional needs and school and/or system priorities.

1–4pm

Join artist Tina Stefanou in this Teacher Professional Learning workshop that explores her practice and the interconnected and multi-sensory experience of film beyond vision. Drawing upon the exhibition, You Can’t See Speed the workshop will continue Stefanou’s interest in the voice as a medium, from spoken sonic soundscapes to vocal techniques such as humming and many more.

In this workshop Tina will work with teachers to experience deep relaxation through breath work. These somatic vocal techniques will improve participants’ integrity of voice and projection, whilst exploring their creativity. Drawing upon Tina’s experience collaborating with students and communities, she will share powerful techniques to build connection and rapport.

Please note:
All materials are included.
All workshops are single events.
Places are limited, so get in quick!

Where: Held at ACCA

Tickets:
Student Teacher $20 + GST
Teacher $25 + GST
Free for regional teachers

Recommended for Primary and Secondary Visual Art Teachers and Student Teachers

AITSL Australian Professional Standards for Teachers addressed:
Standard 2: Know the content and how to teach it
(2.1) Content and teaching strategies of the teaching area
Standard 6: Engage in professional learning
(6.2) Engage in professional learning and improve practice
Standard 7: Engage professionally with colleagues, parents/carers and the community
(7.4) Engage with professional teaching networks and broader communities

Friday 14 March
1 – 4pm

Artist, educator and language worker, Brooke Wandin will lead a practical workshop that begins with an exploration of her collaboration with Megan Cope, biiknganjinu ngangudji – hear our Country 2023 and Mapping Coranderrk no.1 1863–2024, currently being exhibited as part of the exhibition, The Charge That Binds. In the workshop Wandin will share practical skills on the ways teachers can incorporate Aboriginal perspectives into the classroom with cultural sensitivity and confidence. The workshop will assist teachers to explore and generate new creative classroom activities, that effectively embed First Nations Perspectives as well as share her personal archive of resources to continue ongoing learning beyond the session.

Where: Held at ACCA

Tickets:
Student Teacher $20 + GST
Teacher $25 + GST
Free for regional teachers

Artist Bio
Brooke Wandin

wa wa narrinik Brooke Wandin wurundjeri bagurrk woiwurrung dhumbu dulap

I am an artist, an educator, and a language worker. I look for projects and opportunities that enable cultural understanding throughout Wurundjeri Country. These learnings are not static or linear. When participating in creative projects I can consolidate my understanding about my Ancestors and Country; therefore, learning and growing myself, strengthening my identity.  

I aim to continue the reciprocal relationship that has existed here since time began. These interactions are always happening, in the here and now.

Brooke is a Director of Wandoon Estate Aboriginal Corporation.

Recommended for Primary and Secondary Visual Art Teachers and Student Teachers

AITSL Australian Professional Standards for Teachers addressed:
Standard 2: Know the content and how to teach it
(2.1) Content and teaching strategies of the teaching area
Standard 6: Engage in professional learning
(6.2) Engage in professional learning and improve practice
Standard 7: Engage professionally with colleagues, parents/carers and the community
(7.4) Engage with professional teaching networks and broader communities

Wednesday 5 March

2 – 5pm

An artist led workshop exploring Francis Carmody’s artistic practice, which integrates 3D modelling, additive manufacturing, and novel material manipulation. During this in-depth workshop participants will gain insight into the ways these techniques can be adapted for educational contexts and will engage in a hands-on workshop that bridges traditional and contemporary art-making practices.

Where: Held at ACCA

Tickets:
Student Teacher $20 + GST
Teacher $25 + GST
Free for regional teachers

Artist Bio
Francis Carmody

Francis Carmody’s practice can be understood as a form of speculative storytelling, in which he traces social and natural networks in an effort to not only understand the structures that underpin our current reality, but also foster future imaginaries. His work spans varied mediums and engages an ever-expanding list of collaborators, drawing on the expertise of people across diverse disciplines and technical capabilities to investigate historical and natural phenomena, and to realise projects.

This process of enquiry draws on meticulous research, cold calling, persistence and frequent rejection. Creating an ever-expanding list of Project Partners and friends in the process including Psychics, DNA scientists, Neuroscientists, Day-Time Television Sales Specialists, Media Managers, Border Force Agents, Computational Designers, Patent Lawyers, Cartoonists, Graphic Designers, Architects, Automotive painters.

Recommended for Primary and Secondary Visual Art Teachers and Student Teachers

AITSL Australian Professional Standards for Teachers addressed:
Standard 2: Know the content and how to teach it
(2.1) Content and teaching strategies of the teaching area
Standard 6: Engage in professional learning
(6.2) Engage in professional learning and improve practice
Standard 7: Engage professionally with colleagues, parents/carers and the community
(7.4) Engage with professional teaching networks and broader communities

1 – 4pm

Leading contemporary artist Izabela Pluta will facilitate this unique off-site workshop stemming from immersive colour darkroom photography, and focusing on embodied practice, experimental processes and light-sensitive materials.

This hands-on workshop is designed to engage teachers’ and art educators with professional knowledge to inspire new ways of engaging students in contemporary art, collaboration and photographic practice.

The workshop explores the unique possibilities of creating a collaborative colour photogram. Participants will work together engaging with light-sensitive paper to investigate the sensory and material processes of photography as a way of inspiring broader uses of image-making beyond controlled darkroom environments: the session delves into the dynamics of embodied practice and experimental image-making.

Many of the techniques explored can be applied to schools that do not have a darkroom and this will be expanded on further in the session.

Learning intentions:

• Connect curriculum expectations with creative practice in real-world teaching
• Embed contemporary photographic approaches aligned with current curriculum frameworks
• Build confidence in creative experimentation with materials, techniques, and processes
• Support teachers to critically reflect on their own practice and student learning
• Support teachers to lead rich, research-informed teaching strategies
• Support student understanding of visual language and conceptual thinking

WHERE: This workshop will take place off-site, at Wetlab photography in Brunswick East. Participants will meet and depart from there. Further details are provided upon booking via Humanitix.

TICKETS: Please note this workshop is booked out
Student Teacher $40 + GST
Teacher $45 + GST
* Free for regional teachers (We have a limited number of free tickets available for regional Victorian Government and low ISCEA schools)

Recommended for Primary and Secondary Visual Art Teachers and Student Teachers

Regional teachers, we’re pleased to be offering a limited number of free spots for Victorian Government and low ISCEA Schools! To secure a limited free ticket please email ACCA Education here, and tell us a little about yourself and your school community.

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

Izabela Pluta

Izabela Pluta is an artist with an interest in expanded photographic practice. Born in Warsaw, Poland, she currently lives and works between Mulubinba (Newcastle, NSW) and the lands of the Bidjigal and Gadigal (Paddington, Sydney). Izabela holds a PhD from The University of Wollongong, is a Senior Lecturer at UNSW Art and Design Sydney.

Izabela Pluta’s expanded photographic practice is characterised by processes of embodied fieldwork, fragmentation, dislocation and reconfiguration, which she deftly uses to disrupt linear narratives of time and questions the idea of photography as a factual and reliable tool. Her work aims to push the limits of photography as a medium and practice developing a way of working that physically and conceptually navigates states of uncertainty. From tracing geological changes across deep time to addressing faster- changing anthropogenic, cultural, environmental and societal shifts, she considers different aspects of place in an ever-changing world.

Recommended for Primary and Secondary Visual Art Teachers and Student Teachers

AITSL Australian Professional Standards for Teachers addressed:
Standard 2: Know the content and how to teach it
(2.1) Apply knowledge of the content and teaching strategies of the teaching area to develop engaging teaching activities.
Standard 6: Engage in professional learning
(6.2) Participate in learning to update knowledge and practice, targeted to professional needs and school and/or system priorities.
6.4 Undertake professional learning programs designed to address identified student learning needs.
(7.4) Engage with professional teaching networks and broader communities