Alice Springs students display work in NT Museum and Art Gallery

Engaging students with their studies through the right programs could be the ‘key to addressing social issues’ an NT Minister said. Find out why.

Centralian Senior College graduate and artist Danae Moore painted two portraits – one of her grandfather, and one of her great grandfather. They are the first portraits she has completed. Picture: Sierra Haigh

A strong focus on engaging youths through programs such as art could be among the keys to lessening crime rates across Central Australia.

Education Minister Eva Lawler said conversations needed to turn towards how young people could be more engaged, instead of focusing on school attendance rates.

As youth crime in Alice Springs continues to draw national attention, Ms Lawler - in launching a new exhibit at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory - said education was “key to addressing social issues”.

“We don’t just talk about attendance, we have to talk about engagement as well,” she said.

“When they’re at school, it has to be engaging, it has to be connected to them, and they have to feel that they can succeed.”

Ms Lawler said encouraging students to attend school could provide some immediate relief for the Alice Springs community.

“We really need to continue to focus on getting those kids that are on the street in Alice Springs, in school,” she said.

Ms Lawler said many of the issues in Alice Springs were rooted in poverty and “education is the key out of poverty”.

Education Minister Eva Lawler said education was key to addressing the social issues seen in Alice Springs. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

Ms Lawler said the arts could be a way to engage students who “may not have a strength in other areas”.

“That’s their passion, that’s their reason why they go to school,” she said.

While announcing the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory’s newest Exit Art exhibit, Ms Lawler said it gave her joy to see the positive work young people in Alice Springs were doing.

“We often hear the negative stories about young people in Alice Springs,” she said.

“There’s some pieces here from Centralian Senior College, really exceptional pieces.”

Centralian Senior College graduate and artist Mirikai Peters painted a landscape of Trephina Gorge. It is the first landscape he has completed. Picture: MAGNT/Mark Sherwood

Mirikai Peters, who graduated from Centralian Senior College last year and is featured in the exhibit, loved his home in Alice Springs so much he was inspired to paint it.

“I love the nature and wildlife and landscapes all around the town, just growing up around it was really inspiring,” he said.

Mr Peters said the painting of Trephina Gorge took about 75 hours to complete.

He said he was inspired to complete his first landscape by his grandmother, who was also a landscape artist.

Centralian Senior College graduate and artist Danae Moore painted two portraits – one of her grandfather, and one of her great grandfather. They are the first portraits she has completed. Picture: MAGNT/Mark Sherwood

Fellow artist Danae Moore, who also graduated from Centralian Senior College, painted a portrait of her great grandfather and another of her grandfather.

She said she was close to her great grandfather and wanted to try her hand at portrait art instead of her usual sketches.

“I wanted to paint a person in my family, and thought an Elder would be the best one to go with,” she said.

“Me and my mum had a conversation about how important family was, and the Elders are the most important members of the family.”

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