4 hour weekly homeschool program, Earth & Ocean Storytellers connects youth with First Nations knowledge holders, environmental custodians, and professional artists.

Participants will deepen their understanding of caring for land and sea while developing original performance works inspired by place, culture, and environmental responsibility. This sustained, collaborative arts program culminates in a public presentation.

Duration: 20 April – 22 June, 10am -2pm
Exhibition Opens: 7 - 28 June
Classes: Noosa Parks Association

Fees: $600 per term, excluding camps (optional)

Ages: 11-17 years

What Participants Will Gain

• Mentorship from professional artists and cultural knowledge holders

• Experience creating and presenting original work for public audiences

• Skills in making, collaboration, and creative expression

• A strengthened connection to place and environmental stewardship

• Confidence as emerging regional artists and storytellers

Art + Environmental Storytelling

Students explore place-based storytelling through field immersion, studio practice, guest artists, and film development. The program builds toward a public exhibition and optional film festival submission.

KEY EXPERIENCES 

• Optional Overnight immersion camp at Harrys Hut (river ecology + night field study)

• Optional Overnight immersion camp at Double Island Point (coastal systems + dunes + ocean storytelling)

• Optional Friday Guest workshop with Lauren L. Hill (surf film storytelling + narrative structure)

• Guest sessions with Jandamarra Cadd (material, story, and cultural narrative)

• Guest session with Fin Wegener (sound recording)

WEEKLY STRUCTURE

Week 1 – Entering Place 

April 20 Monday
Focus: Observation, story, mapping
Outcome: Concept sketches and personal visual maps

One day this term - t-shirt design (Guest artist: Em Niwa 2 hours)

Week 2 – Mapping + Preparation (Guest artist: Fin Wegener 2 hours)

April 27 Monday
Focus: Translating place into visual systems - recordings from Everglades
Outcome: Field-informed studies and compositional experiments

Saturday May 2 - Sunday May 3

Harry's Hut Overnight Camp (Optional)
Focus: Sensory immersion in river environment
Outcome: Field journals, sketches, sound and memory recordings

Week 3 – Atmosphere + Translation

May 4 Monday
Focus: Converting field experience into visual language - recording from Harry’s Hut
Outcome: Experimental artworks based on immersion

May 8  Friday Workshop with Lauren L. Hill (optional extra)
Focus: Surf culture, environmental storytelling, film structure

Week 4 – Preparation for DI Trip. 

May 11 Monday

Double Island Point Overnight Camp - date TBA - Saturday - Sunday
Focus: Coastal systems and environmental contrast to river landscape
Outcome: Coastal field studies and narrative material

Week 5 – Material + Story (Guest Artist: Jandamarra)

May 18 Monday

Focus: Material storytelling and cultural narrative
Outcome: Material-based artworks and concept development

Week 6 – Independent Production (Guest Artist: Jandamarra)

May 25 Monday
Focus: Resolution of major artworks for exhibition
Outcome: 4–6 resolved artworks per student

Week 7 – Finalisation + Exhibition Preparation

June 1 Monday
Focus: Selection, refinement, and installation planning
Outcome: Final artworks and artist statements completed

Film-
Focus: Sequencing, storytelling, and narrative structure
Outcome: Developed works and film concept direction

Week 8 – Exhibition Opens

June 8 Monday
Focus: Public exhibition launch Thursday evening at Nambour

Week 9 – Exhibition in Action + Film Development

June 15 Monday
Focus: Audience engagement and reflection
Outcome: Documentation and refinement of film work toward submission

Week 10 – Closure + Submission

June 22 Monday
Focus: Final edits, archiving, and deinstallation
Outcome: Film submission preparation and complete exhibition archive