Visual Arts  

VCE Art Creative Practice Excursion to the NGV

In week 8 of Term 1, the VCE Art Creative Practice class journeyed to the NGV to view artworks in the opening week of Top Arts 2026 and immersed themselves in the wearable artworks and fashion of Vivienne Westwood and Rei Kawakubo at NGV International.

Upon arriving at NGV International, the Year 11s and 12s attended Westwood/Kawakubo, an exhibition championing the experimental and radical fashion designs of Vivienne Westwood and Rei Kawakubo, of Comme de Garcon. Students had fun exploring fashion design from the 1970s up to today, examining trends in fashion, culture and identity.

Students loved the punk fuelled attire of Westwood’s early collections, characterised by the garments’ abundance of tartan, shredded denim and leather. Students also engaged with the haute couture designs of Kawakubo, in particular attire which changes and gives new life to the silhouette of its wearer. 

Students also spent time exploring the NGV’s permanent collection, with many taking in the range of 19th Century artworks and bronzes in the Salon and immersing themselves in the paintings and graphic works of the Surrealists.  

Following lunch, students visited Top Arts 2026. Students engaged with a keynote presentation, outlining the themes of the exhibition, artworks, student profiles and advice around how to develop and refine their own Creative Practices. This was followed by a folio viewing. Students eagerly viewed the folios created by previous year 12s from across Victoria, taking note on idea generation, experimentation with artforms and how Visual Language was refined in the creation of artworks.

Their visit to Top Arts concluded with a viewing of the exhibition itself. Students encountered works exploring themes of time, the environment, ideas of self and the everyday, while collecting inspiration for their own practice.

A big thank you to Joyce Bao for attending the excursion.

The VCE Art Creative Practice, 2026

Christopher Henson

Visual Arts Teacher

2026 Arts Space 

Arts Space starts next Friday in Room 34 at lunchtime. All welcome! Find out more from your Arts Captains, Vista and Camilla.  Vista and Camila have been doing an amazing job sourcing really interesting ideas for Arts Space. We have been very creative redesigning  playing cards, mathematical with origami, having fun painting rocks, soft lino carving and printing and there is more to come.....we are here each week on a Friday at lunchtime.

Bring yourself, bring a friend, bring your lunch. Join in on planned activities or do your own art work.

Come and be CREATIVE! 

TOPshots 2026

 A huge congratulations to James Panchmatia (Class of 2025) whose artwork 'So many stories you’ll just never hear’ is currently on display at the Museum of Australian Photography as part of their yearly Top Shots exhibition. This exhibition celebrates emerging photographers who have recently completed their studies in VCE, VET and IB. 

James’ work was selected from hundreds of entries from across the state of Victoria, becoming one of 12 finalists in this exhibition. His work, and others, were celebrated at a formal opening ceremony on the 17 March, where judging panellists Anouska Phizacklea (Director of MAPh) and Morganna Magee (Photographer and guest judge) commended the calibre of the students’ works and their contributions to the Australian Arts. 

Here’s what James has said of his work:

“Observing society in both individual and collective senses through an architectural lens, the buildings we as people inhabit and live with are employed as a metaphor for all the unique lives throughout our society and how said lives impact the environments: specifically, via the structures that are constructed and inhabited. Each window marking a story of what exists within; every photograph is a vignette of a human experience and how it has shaped the world around it, both in the personal and environmental aspects. A story may be faintly seen but never fully heard.”

Top Shots 2026 runs from 11 March – 4 May at MAPh, 860 Ferntree Gully Rd, Wheelers Hill VIC 3150.

James Panchatia, So many stories you’ll just never hear 

(2025, Pigment ink-jet prints, 118.0 x 186.0 cm overall)

Christopher Henson

Visual Arts Teacher

Year 8 Art 

In year 8 Art students have been creating an artwork centred around the theme of people and technology: the similarities and difference between them. Students have been exploring and developing a range of watercolour painting techniques to each produce an individual and unique artwork.

Year 9 Photography

In year 9 photography students have been learning the online software program Adobe Photoshop to edit, enhance, and create images, in preparation for their 'Unbelievable Artwork'. To practise these skills, we have been working through a number of workshops, each one designed to learn the different tools and features of Photoshop. We all began with the same image of a wooden mannequin, and ended up with a variety of results, have a look!

Year 10 Photography 

In year 10 photography we have been exploring still life compositions, using a variety of props. We have also incorporated different artificial lighting to highlight certain aspects of our subjects. Please enjoy our creative photographs!

2nd reEarth International Art Prize 

Well done to the following students who received the following notification from the 2nd reEarth International Art Prize competition.

MARCUS WIRAWAN / JEROME ZHOU / NAOMI BROCKBANK / KARA TAN / TIANA NGUYEN / KANE LI YUEN FONG/ KERRY XU

Congratulations to the above students! We are thrilled to officially share that you have been awarded a Participation Certificate in the 2nd reEarth International Art Prize.

Our panel of judges was deeply moved by your work, which they found to be a powerful contribution to this year’s global conversation on climate and ecology. It is a privilege to recognize your unique creative voice and feature your talent on this international stage.

An opportunity to shine on the big screen....REELise Film Festival

We’re inviting your students to enter the 2026 REELise Film Festival, a nationally recognised youth film festival celebrating original short films.

Key Details: 

Theme: RIPPLE – stories that explore how small decisions, moments, or actions create lasting impact – personal, social, or cultural.

Eligibility: Filmmakers aged 12-24 years.

Film Length: Up to 5 minutes (including credits)

Entry Close Date: 5 July 2026

Festival Date: 29 August 2026

Venue: Ritz Cinemas, Randwick + national livestream

Entry Fee: Free

Now in its 13th year, the REELise Film Festival provides a safe, professional platform for new voices to be seen, heard, and celebrated.  Designed to complement classroom learning, the Festival provides:

 ·        Industry exposure:

Finalists acquire red carpet interview skills, can network with fellow creatives and industry representatives, and have their films screened in a premium cinema environment with a livestream broadcast around Australia.

·        Career building recognition:

REELise alumni have gone on to win awards, secure industry mentorships, and enter the screen industry.

·        Meaningful creative expression:

Students are encouraged to tell stories drawn from lived experience, social issues, and the world around them.

·        Access for All:

Entry is free.  Both pocket and traditional filmmaking are welcome, and all genres are accepted.  Free mentoring and advice are available about the filmmaking process.

An Information Sheet for Staff and a Student Flyer are attached for easy sharing.

For full submission guidelines and entry details, visit www.reelise.org.au or contact info@reelise.org.au.

Holiday activities.....visit ACMI 

Part of the VCE 2026 Season of Excellence, Top Screen showcases the work and creative processes of Victoria’s next generation of filmmakers.

Discover an eclectic selection of short films created by VCE Media students in 2025. Attend a screening, hear directly from the filmmakers in Q&A panels, and deepen learning with sessions led by ACMI Educators. 

ACMI 

Cinemas, Level 2ACMI, Fed Square

Tue 17 Mar – Tue 5 May 2026 

Explore the program

NCM holiday program 

At NCM, the holiday program brings together creative tech experiences and interactive museum fun in one place. Kids can take part in hands-on workshops like 3D printing, video game design and robotics, designed to spark curiosity and play.

There are also free drop-in activities with museum entry, including trying on a robotic finger or joining a robot tour.

Explore the full list of activities below. Workshop places are limited, so book ahead to secure a spot.

We look forward to seeing you soon. 

School Holidays at NCM

Helen Briffa

Visual Arts/Technology Teacher

Visual Arts Domain PLC Leader