Gallery Workshops — Creative Wellbeing and Cultural Connection

The Gallery Workshops initiative offers safe, culturally rich, and creative spaces to support student wellbeing, cultural awareness, and community connection. Across Q1 2025, the program delivered five workshops, including Welcome Day sessions, specialty art workshops, and fortnightly weaving workshops led by First Nations facilitators. These activities promote placemaking, cultural immersion, and creative expression.

So far, 152 students have participated face-to-face, with strong engagement across multiple cohorts. While the workshops are intentionally in-person due to their creative, hands-on nature, they have attracted positive feedback and generated further invitations from other university areas to expand the program.

Delivered in collaboration with Wollotuka, NU Services, School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Sciences (HCISS), and academic staff, these workshops have enhanced cultural awareness, encouraged peer connection, and supported student wellbeing. Quantitative measures (e.g., participation numbers, activity duration, collaborations) and qualitative feedback show the program’s success in enhancing student experience.

The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.