Home program showcase

In 2015 the Gallery partnered with Wiradjuri community at Wagga Wagga, The Arts Unit, NSW Department of Education and Wagga Wagga Art Gallery to develop and deliver the program Home: Aboriginal art from New South Wales to selected schools in the Wagga Wagga region.

Since 2015 the program has been delivered annually in collaboration with other regional galleries, working closely with their local Aboriginal Communities, to selected schools across regional NSW.

The year-long program supports students and teachers to understand and appreciate the richness and diversity of Aboriginal art in New South Wales and is currently based at four regional galleries in Wiradjuri and Kamilaroi Country – Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, Bathurst Regional Art Gallery, Murray Art Museum Albury and Tamworth Regional Gallery.

Students work with local Aboriginal artists to learn about art and culture at their regional gallery, visit the Art Gallery of NSW for a virtual excursion and make art with a focus Aboriginal artist each year in an online art lesson.

Each annual program culminates in an exhibition of student artwork at each participating regional gallery. This celebration of their achievement is an exciting experience for students and their families, teachers and wider community and for each local Aboriginal Community that has led and supported the program.

In 2020 the program was modified due to the effects of COVID-19 on us all. Some schools needed to focus their resources in other curriculum areas and withdrew from the program. Not all regional galleries were able to host an exhibition as usual and schools were unable to attend the opening of exhibitions where they occurred.

Despite the challenges, students enjoyed an art making lesson with Wiradjuri artist Karla Dickens and remotely visited the Art Gallery of New South Wales to meet curators and experience works in the collection and the 22nd Biennale of Sydney: NIRIN. Regional galleries modified their workshop programs to reach students so that the important learning about the diversity and strength of Aboriginal art from New South Wales could continue.

The Gallery celebrates the achievements of students in the Home program 2020 through an online exhibition of selected student artwork. These artworks can be found on each of the related regional gallery pages on this resource.

The HOME project has not just included the community but has provided the opportunity for Community to be part of the planning and delivery. This has an ongoing effect for all students to take home the Wiradjuri Culture. It is not only the Culture plus arts practice and gives the students an opportunity that they would not have had otherwise. It is a credit to the teachers and support staff how much the students have been enriched by the whole experience. This is not just during the program; but I have spoken with participants from past years who still talk about their time. Without the Department’s support and encouragement, this program wouldn’t have happened. Over the four years I have been involved I have learnt so much from the Home Education Kit at the Art Gallery of New South Wales and am looking forward to sharing and learning in the future.

Aunty Lorraine Tye
Wiradjuri Elder
Wagga Wagga

The HOME art education program has significantly raised the profile of both art and of Wiradjuri culture and history within our school – and increased understanding and engagement with Wiradjuri culture and history for both staff and students.

Art is such a powerful springboard into other areas. Home has given me a new way of thinking and programming a unit of work, a conceptual theme through which I can introduce students to other syllabus areas like History.

The program contextualises art and provides a framework for me to engage with Wiradjuri language, culture, histories through my teaching – it also connects me with the right people in the community who can teach language, who can advise on the right way to do things – it’s been so empowering.

Rebecca Sini
Classroom Teacher
Gundagai South Public School’