Students and Professionals Collaborate on the Central Coast

The Creative and Performing Arts programs at the Ourimbah campus recently delivered a successful project designed to get creativity flowing.

The Grotto Project involved students and professional artists engaging in speculative and experimental approaches to art creation, with a public audience.

"The Grotto Project" event 2013 was a resounding success with students and professional artists sharing their art and performance works with a public audience.  Students commented on how invaluable the experience of working with professional artists was and look forward to applying their new skills in future ventures" said Dr. Jocelyn McKinnon.

Starting on the 13th of June, the first event was an exhibition, titled "Play with Colour," curated by Karen Dimmock. The exhibition featured and explored the idea of colour across a variety of artworks presented by a selection of students and professional artists.

Then an eclectic series of short, innovative performance works developed by undergraduate students was presented, under the artistic direction of Creative Arts Course Coordinator, Dr. Jocelyn McKinnon.

Attracting wide spread praise from community members of the audience, professional artists, academics and distinguished guests, the Head of the School of Creative Arts, Professor Richard Vella has requested that the Grotto Project be further developed in to a national symposium.  

With planning commencing later this year, universities and arts organisations across the country will be invited to the Ourimbah campus in 2015 to share and explore innovation in the Creative & Performing Arts.  In the interim, Mr. Elio Gatti in his capacity as the Gosford Arts & Cultural Officer has requested that the Ourimbah campus become the site for a local arts forum in October this year.