By Julia West - Faculty Leader: The Arts

Da Capo and Theatre Studies

The joy and energy seen in the music, drama and theatre studies departments is infectious as Year 7 DaCapo work towards their final DaCapo Concert. These concerts are in fact assessed items that support students in learning about performing in orchestras and the conventions of music. The last two DaCapo concerts are on 17 & 18 November at 1:30pm.

Unit 1 & 2 Theatre Studies are currenlty in rehearsal and will perform their Unit 2 Product of Picnic at Hanging Rock on 29 October. We wish all these students all the best as they move towards the end of our busy learning year!

RE:FLECT VCE Art and Design Exhibition

The Visual Art and Design staff worked collaboratively with students to create the 2026 Art & Design Exhibition. Artworks consisting of paintings, prints and mixed media were displayed alongside Visual Communication and Design productions of environmental and 2D designs. The Media productions consisted of photography that explored stories of family and heartfelt themes of pressure and anxieties of contemporary life, and film narratives that used well-known genre conventions including comedy and thriller.

Our guest speaker Katie Chancellor, a Ballarat artist, delivered a wonderful speech about her journey from health and business to creating a career as an artist. Her comments about one’s journey as creative producer was thoughtful and inspiring. Her works featuring native birds cut out in wood are beautiful and reflect connections of youth to the Australian bush.

As for the Year 12 Arts students we wish them best of luck as they begin the VCE Examinations. This year we have students sitting VCD, Art Creative Practice and Media Examinations in November. We wish these students luck during this busy study period.

As we do each year, we are proud to list the winners of the Art and Design awards presented by staff during the evening of the opening of the 2026 Art and Design Exhibition. We congratulate these students on their creativity and hard work applied throughout the year.

We also congratulate and thank teaching staff Alex Davison, Rachel Myers, Tracey Lean and Julia West for their support and commitment to their students. Thank you to our Art Technician Carly Pitts and our assistant Art Technician Claire McArdle, along with catalogue designer Narelle Mulrooney for their ongoing support and creativity. It’s a large-scale operation curating and hanging a show and every year the staff show a keen-eyed determination to highlight and promote each and every student’s work.

We are currently conducting the 2026 People’s Choice Award. Attendees of the Art and Design Exhibition are encouraged to vote for an artwork they enjoyed.

Art and Design Exhibition Awards - 2026

PRINCIPAL'S AWARD: Abbey (Art) and Rebecca (Photography)

Awarded to the student who has their work selected personally by the Principal for display at the College for 12 months.

ART CREATIVE PRACTICE

Excellence in Creative Arts and Innovation Award: Emily

This award recognises a student who has demonstrated exceptional creativity, originality, and innovation across the creative arts.

Outstanding Creative Process Award: Marnie

This award recognises a student who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to developing, refining, and extending their ideas throughout their creative practice.

Outstanding Craftsmanship and Technique Award: Laela

This award recognises a student who has demonstrated exceptional technical skill, control, experimentation, and attention to detail in the creation of their artwork.

MEDIA

Outstanding media processes and production – Photography: Rebecca

Awarded to a student who has achieved excellence in the media processes of research and experimentation, design and production skills in photography.

Outstanding media processes and production – Film: Rose

Awarded to a student who has achieved excellence in the media processes of research, and experimentation, design and production skills in film.

Achievement in media technologies and techniques: Matilda

Awarded to a student who furthered their skills in media technologies, applied agency and showed creativity.

VISUAL COMMUNICATION AND DESIGN:

Creative Response Award: Freyja

Awarded to the student who demonstrates a creative response to a Visual Communication Design brief.

Excellence in Technical Conventions Award: Zoe

Awarded to the student who displays a high competency in technical convention.

Excellence in Final Presentations Award: Evie

Awarded to the student who displays a high competency in a final presentation.

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