Painting toward a new future: Behind every painting there’s an artist. And behind every artist who attends the STEPS Interactive Art Centre in Alice Springs, there’s a brighter future.
The 20-odd Indigenous folk regularly attending the centre come from a number of communities around the Alice, but all have a common interest in art.
Four days a week, the artists come together at the Centre, not only to paint, but to be trained in life skills that will ultimately give them greater independence. Every day is different at the Centre. One day the artists may be working on a canvas, the next day learning how to read a recipe, and planning a trip to the shopping centre to buy ingredients. Centre Manager, Katrina, said that the Interactive Art Centre is a new venture, funded by the Federal Government, designed to empower a new generation of artist and showcase their work.
Located in a tourist precinct next to the Royal Flying Doctors, the centre is currently serving as a training facility, skilling the participants in numeracy, literacy and various life skills.
Eventually, the centre will become a multi-purpose precinct, also functioning as a tourist destination and art gallery. “It’s all about giving these artists the life skills to become established in their every day life and not be so restricted,” Katrina said. Eventually the centre will open to tourists, giving the artists a chance to sell their artwork. Some artists will also give hands-on Indigenous art lessons to tourists, hence the title “Interactive Art Centre”. A bush tucker garden is also planned for the centre. “We’re asking the artists to paint smaller pieces, and they will be reasonably priced, because we want the art to run out the door rather than sit for months,” said Katrina, who explained that each painting will come with a photo of the artist.
“As part of their literacy and numeracy training, we sit down with each artist and put together the story behind each painting. Everyone who buys a painting will also receive the artists photo and story.” Recipes are an important part of literacy and numeracy training. Stir fry and pea-and-ham soup have become favourites, as the artists learn to read the recipes, and then plan and budget for the shopping trip.
Learning at the centre is a two way street. Katrina said she is learning much about Aboriginal culture as she spends time with the centre’s participants. When she took the artists on a 130 km field trip in search of ininti beads (for beading work), she was given the opportunity to sample a much loved snack – kangaroo tail. “I don’t mind eating kangaroo tail, but I’m glad I took some fruit and cake as well.”
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