Mediacontact:CassidyRichens,0405485288,62931443orcassidy.richens@tuggeranongarts.com.au

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M E D I A R E L E A S E 2 December 2016

World class street art in West Belco Staff and students from Tuggeranong Arts Centre’s Messengers Program and Kingsford Smith High School, together with MLA Rachel Stephen-Smith will launch a giant building mural in Kippax at 1pm on Monday 12 December. The giant Kippax mural is the final product of a one-year personal development program Messengers has been delivering to Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander students at Kingsford Smith in 2016. Youth mentors and various local artists have been delivering a multifaceted arts based program to students from year 6 to 10, combining contemporary and traditional arts practices with personal development outcomes. Yuin artist Brett Carpenter has been teaching the students traditional and contemporary painting techniques and ways to use visual arts to explore culture, self-expression and personal development. Canberra street artist James Smalls (Smalls) – who worked with Messengers students in Tuggeranong late last year to develop and paint a giant mural on one of the Arts Centre’s exterior walls – joined the program in the latter part of this year to teach the kids spray painting techniques and principles of Street Art. Utilising skills developed throughout the year and to close the program for 2016, the students are working with world renowned Street Artist “Mistery” to design and create a giant mural on all walls of the toilet block in Kippax. The kids will work with the Sydney based artist to design and paint the mural on the provided walls at their local oval. Transport Canberra and City Services has worked with Messengers to provide support to the project by supplying paint and arranging permission for the artists to paint at the site. TAC CEO Rauny Worm says the project has been a great way to engage youth in an activity that captures their interests and helps them connect with their local community. “Allowing kids to demonstrate their creative ideas through public art builds self esteem and pride in local public spaces. I hope this will lead to increased access to programs promoting legal high quality and innovative street arts programs that connect the community and young graffiti artists. “These opportunities are a great way to brighten up the streets and improve the artistic skills of young people. They are also a great way to progressively deal with problems related to illegal graffiti,” Ms. Worm said. The colorful mural will be designed over two days from the 7th – 8th of December and painted on Thursday 8th, Friday 9th and Monday 12th December. The visual concept will reflect themes explored during the program as well the student’s aspirations. It will incorporate the graffiti writing style “Mistery” is recognised for across the globe. The project has supported by the ACT Government through the Our Communities grant scheme.

Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith, MLA will officially launch the Mural at 1pm on Monday 12 December At the Kippax toilet block, outside at the back of the Kippax Centre

Also attending the launch is: Rauny Worm, Tuggeranong Arts Centre CEO, Penny Stott, Messenger Program Manager, Paul Branson, Principal, Kingsford Smith School, Nghi Perrim, Pastoral Care Coordinator, Matt Peet, (Mistery), Sydney based Street Artist, James

Smalls, (Smalls), Canberra Street Artist.