Talented visual arts students gather for a master class in all things digital

ARTEXPRESS is one of our most highly anticipated art exhibitions – an annual celebration of NSW high school students' creativity and imagination – however the ideas for those incredible major works often begin years earlier.

To help promote that creativity and foster new ideas, Western Sydney University recently hosted its annual ARTEXPRESS Digital Media Master Class.

Bringing together 25 talented year 10 and year 11 students from high schools across Western Sydney, the Master Class is an opportunity for students to hone their media production skills using the state-of-the-art production facilities based at the University's Penrith campus.

Maryella Hatfield, lecturer from Western Sydney University's School of Humanities and Communication Arts and facilitator of the workshop, says the program has become highly-anticipated amongst students.

"We've been running the Digital Master Class for the last five years, and we always thoroughly enjoy hosting the students for the day-long workshop," says Ms Hatfield.

"It's a chance for students to work with the University's own student mentors, explore their ideas and creativity, use our facilities, and transform their film, television, and digital media ideas into reality."

Kimberley Oates, ARTEXPRESS Project Officer, says she is excited about the great opportunity for students to expand their creative thinking and strengthen their digital art-making practice.

"Western Sydney University has fantastic facilities supported by highly regarded staff, and ARTEXPRESS is thrilled to provide this great link for school students to reach their next creative level", says Ms Oates.

Each of the participating high school students are selected by their visual arts teachers for their artistic ability, with the workshop giving them a great chance to move beyond their own individual art backgrounds and practices to explore the possibilities in digital technology.

 

Students participate in activities such as taking part in studio recordings filmed on green screen, and taking part in location shooting and sound recording.

The Western Sydney University Digital Master Class is supported by the University's School of Humanities and Communication Arts in partnership with the NSW Department of Education and ARTEXPRESS.

Participating schools in this year's workshop are:

* James Ruse Agricultural High
* Baulkham Hills High
* Cherrybrook Technology High
* Burwood Girls High
* Cabramatta High
* Prairiewood High
* Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High
* Bossley Park High
* East Hills Girls Technology High
* Bankstown Senior College

Ends

18 September 2015

Photos By: George Voulgaropoulos

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