Curator for a day: Primary students select works for ArtStart show
Image: Student curators from Launceston Church Grammar School select works for ArtStart: The Next Generation. Photo: QVMAG.
Guest curators from Launceston primary schools will meet at the Queen Victoria Art Gallery today to select artworks for display in the next ArtStart exhibition set to open later this month.
Designed to encourage children's participation in the visual arts, ArtStart provides an opportunity for students in kindergarten to grade six across northern Tasmania to have their work displayed at the Art Gallery as part of this popular annual exhibition.
This year, ArtStart showcases works created in response to the NAIDOC Week 2025 theme: The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy, celebrating the histories, cultures, achievements, and ongoing contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The exhibition is curated by young Indigenous students, fostering interest and involvement in the process of developing an art show.
More than 70 artworks have been submitted for consideration for this year’s exhibition.
City of Launceston Mayor Matthew Garwood said the ArtStart exhibition was a shining example of what happens when creativity, culture and young voices come together.
“ArtStart is one of those special events that captures hearts every year. It’s playful, powerful and packed with imagination,” Mayor Garwood said.
“What makes this year even more special is that it celebrates the next generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders, artists and storytellers, all through the eyes of our youngest creatives.
“I’d encourage everyone to visit QVMAG this winter, warm up inside the gallery, and be blown away by the raw talent, vision and heart on display.”
Students are encouraged to experiment with patterns, textures and materials to create works in any medium, including drawing, painting, photography and mixed media.
A long-standing QVMAG initiative, ArtStart nurtures children’s engagement with the visual arts and is made possible through the generous support of the Terry and Nan Woodward ArtStart legacy.
ArtStart: The Next Generation will be on display at the Art Gallery at Royal Park from 28 June to 9 November 2025, open daily from 10am until 4pm. Entry is free.
Issued 19 June 2025.