The Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development, Yvette Berry has launched the ACT schools’ first Reconciliation Challenge exhibition.
Ms Berry said the Schools Reconciliation Challenge was an annual writing and art event where students were asked to create artworks and stories reflecting what reconciliation meant to them.
“This year’s theme was Our Voices, Our Future!” Ms Berry said.
“This is the first year the ACT has been invited to participate in this challenge with NSW, and Canberra met the task with 21 schools taking part.”
She said students presented their ideas in many ways, including through sculpture, painting, mixed media, stories, songs, poetry, and comic strips, all of which were powerful in their own way.
She said the Schools Reconciliation Challenge presented students with an opportunity to join the conversation about the type of inclusive society they wanted to live in, that welcomed everyone and recognised and celebrated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, languages, cultures and histories.
She congratulated all the participants in the challenge, with a special mention to this year’s ACT winners: Wynetta Rix from Macquarie Primary School and Amaree Sarlili from Richardson Primary School.
“This special range of inspiring and beautiful art and writing works have been on public display at the Fitters Workshop in Kingston,” Ms Berry said.
“The exhibition then moves to the Tuggeranong Arts Centre until 20 December, before being toured around NSW.”
