Cooloola Stories
THURSDAYS - 10am - 2pm - Cedar Pocket Studio and other locations on country (partly funded by grants)
Term 2
Cooloola Stories is a youth-led exhibition created by students aged 10–17 as part of a 10-week immersive arts program exploring place, ecology and storytelling through contemporary art practice.
Over the course of the program, participants work with professional artists to develop artworks responding to the landscapes, waterways and environmental histories of the Cooloola region. Through drawing, sculpture, installation, sound, and experimental media, students investigate themes of climate, memory, biodiversity and human connection to Country.
The exhibition period will run 7–28 June, with the first week taking place in the gallery space itself. During this time, students will work collaboratively to learn the process of curating their own exhibition—including artwork selection, exhibition design, installation, interpretation, and presentation.
This approach transforms the gallery into a temporary learning studio, allowing young artists to develop practical curatorial skills while shaping how their work is experienced by audiences.
The final exhibition will present a collection of works produced during the program, showcasing the perspectives of young people responding creatively to environmental change and the stories embedded in the Cooloola landscape.
Cooloola Stories aims to:
amplify youth voices through contemporary art
build confidence and creative skills in regional young people
connect young artists with professional mentors
create meaningful dialogue about environment, place and future
The exhibition will be curated by the participating students with guidance from program facilitator Hayley Davis, alongside mentoring artists involved in the program.
Key dates:
Artist workshops with Jandamarra Cadd and Fin Wegener.
10-week studio program: development of artworks responding to Cooloola landscapes and ecosystems
7–28 June: student-curated exhibition and installation period at The Old Ambulance Station, Nambour, with opening night and art auction fundraiser June 12.