Funding grant will bring children’s vision to light in Gunnedah mural project

Schools, preschools and early learning services in the New South Wales country town of Gunnedah will contribute to a mural project to liven up an exterior wall of the Winanga-Li Aboriginal Child and Family Centre, local news source Namoi Valley Independent has reported.

Having been successful in securing a $1224 grant through the Gunnedah Shire Council Arts and Cultural Grants Fund, the service will seek to involve all schools, early learning centres and preschools in Gunnedah in creating a mural. 

“There’s not many things in Gunnedah that connect the schools together – everyone does their own separate thing – so we thought we could do an art project that could in some way connect us together,” Winanga-Li educator Daisy Jaeger said.

Drawing on children’s various perspectives of what culture means to them, the mural will draw on the personal experiences of the children to ensure the work is truly collaborative.

The mural will aim to engage the general public also, with Ms Jaeger, along with engagement and development manager Kate McGrath, hoping the mural will feature in the front play area of the centre, so passersby can see it from the street.

Should the mural be a success, Ms Jaeger is hoping for more artwork created with children to feature in the Gunnedah community, to show children the value of their creative voice. 

To read the original coverage of this story, as prepared by Jessica Worboys for Namoi Valley Independent, please see here.