Curtin University’s Design and Art Precinct – where the next generation of artists, fashion designers and creative leaders learn their craft – has been transformed into a dynamic new creative hub.
The upgraded precinct, located at Curtin University’s main Perth campus, offers students access to improved facilities and creative spaces, including a project research space, distributed learning spaces, digital modelling and Mac labs as well as a prototyping area.
Curtin University Faculty of Humanities Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Alan Dench said the newly refurbished buildings would support the longevity of learning, teaching and research in the design and art disciplines.
“We see such wonderful, creative works being produced by our talented students and it’s great to see those works being completed and exhibited in a dynamic new creative hub,” Professor Dench said.
“These facilities are the on-campus home to artists, fashion, graphic and digital designers, just to name a few. They are also utilised by theatre arts students and architecture students, for various units.
“Curtin’s new Design and Art Precinct will deliver a revitalised area dedicated to fostering the creativity and development of this community, offering increased opportunities for unique, practical learning experiences and interdisciplinary projects.”
The newly revamped exhibition spaces were recently home to the 2019 Curtin University Art Degree Show, the largest art graduate show in Western Australia.
Celebrating the creative work of undergraduate, honours and masters students studying fine art, this year’s show included the presentation of the inaugural Pete Vile Drawing Prize, dedicated to the memory of the Curtin fine art graduate, who was particularly interested in drawing as a foundation for skills to express his ideas and imagination.
Awarded to third-year fine art student Leah Chidlow for her work Slip Lane, the $1,000 prize aims to recognise and encourage a new generation of art students who are experimental and imaginative through drawing.
“The entries were of a really high calibre and I was genuinely surprised to win,” Ms Chidlow said. “I’m a little overwhelmed, but in a good way.”
