Emerging First Nations artists are celebrating culture and experiencing the thrill of exhibiting in North Queensland's premier art gallery as part of the Young Indigenous Printmakers program.
First Nations school groups have had the opportunity to take part in a two-day intensive workshop with artist mentors Margaret Robertson and Ricky Emmerton, learning new techniques and creating their own artworks.
Students from grades eight to 12 participated in the program, run in partnership between Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts and Townsville City Galleries, including students from the Torres Strait, Coen, Cairns and Townsville.
Their artworks are on show now through to 3 May at Perc Tucker Gallery, alongside the In the Heart of the North (Part 1) and Mintjapuni: Ricky Emmerton exhibitions.
Year 12 Townsville Grammar School student Peah Messa said the program helped bolster her perspective as a young artist.
"I have some experience print making already and the workshop reminded me that I can actually create successful artworks," she said.
"Lino printing is a very satisfying process but also challenging because you need to have patience and steady hands."
Townsville Grammar School teacher Meg Taylor said workshops like this expanded the horizons of young North Queensland artists.
"Opportunities like this are important for young artists as they get to interact with and learn from industry professionals, using industry standard equipment and processes and see their work exhibited in a professional space alongside practising artists' work," Ms Taylor said.
"The printmaking workshop was also extremely beneficial for some of the older students as it built their skills in the medium which they can then use to enhance and complement their own practice at school and into the future.
"It has also been very exciting to see Tai Ahmat's work displayed as part of the promotional material for the gallery's current exhibitions and has certainly given her a boost of confidence as a talented young artist."
Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts deputy director Daniel Qualischefski said it was great to see how engaged this cohort of emerging artists was during the program.
"Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts is proud to partner for another year with Townsville City Galleries to deliver the Young Indigenous Printmakers outreach program," he said.
"For many students, this is their first experience working in a professional studio and publicly presenting their work. It can be genuinely transformative and helps young people imagine pathways that might not have previously felt accessible.
"Young Indigenous Printmakers fosters confidence, skill and camaraderie that can carry well beyond the classroom."
Councillor Ann-Maree Greaney extended her congratulations to the exhibiting artists.
"It's great to see the amount of cultural pride on display at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery. Well done to all of the young artists involved," Cr Greaney said.
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