NEWS
Secondary students show their SmArts at RMIT
Students from Hume Central Secondary College and Wyndham Central College demonstrated their creative and collaborative skills during the three-day SmArts program at RMIT.
SmArts, now in its fifth year, is a collaboration between RMIT and The Smith Family.
The program aims to give students an insight in to art and design careers, build their confidence and explore tertiary study options.
The 32 Year 9 and 10 students visited a number of exhibitions at the National Gallery of Victoria, and participated in an art tour of Melbourne, focusing on the shapes, textures and patterns of the urban environment.
The students then worked with RMIT tutor and curator of the Urban Animators: Living Laboratory project, Grace Leone, to develop a collaborative piece of work based on their experience of the city.
The final result is a stunning 3D mural (measuring 3.5 by 2.5m) which will be on display at RMIT’s city campus for one month.
The mural was included in the recent Winter Blast festival, a series of performance, installation and projection works, all using the New Academic Street (NAS) construction site as a canvas. The SmArts program was also financially supported by NAS.
The SmArts program is one of many on-campus programs that give students an insight into career opportunities and what it would be like to study at RMIT.
Students attending Schools Network Access Program (SNAP) partner schools are invited to participate in this suite of programs, called I Belong.
Lara Rafferty, Manager of RMIT’s Equity and Diversity Unit, said I Belong offers students the chance to explore the city and get a sense of what it means to be a university student.
“The programs cover a range of disciplines, and give students a chance to explore the kinds of labs and facilities that RMIT students use every day,” she said.
“Secondary students work with RMIT teaching staff and meet current RMIT students who study those programs.”
One student spoke about how the SmArts program helped them “to understand the learning systems at some Australian universities, for I am new to the country.”
“The whole experience has allowed me the opportunity to see and visit different places here in Melbourne. It has helped me develop an understanding of studying in a university.”
Story: Sarah Bell