FedUni Arts Academy

From collection research to exhibition install, Kiara’s internship is a great snapshot of how hands-on experience brings art, textiles, and stories to life

Since early March we have been hosting Fed Uni art student Kiara for an internship as part of her study. We asked Kiara to capture a snapshot of her internship so far – over to Kiara!

"Hi, I'm Kiara, a Visual Arts student at Federation University. I am an artist but mainly adore curating, and collection management and research! As an intern my focus has been on researching the TAMA Collection and maintaining the collection's digital records to help the gallery keep telling the stories of the beautiful and unique textile pieces it holds. However, I have also had the opportunity to engage with so many other areas, like exhibition planning and install, where I've been able to build a diverse practical base to apply to my academic experience and challenge myself. Especially working alongside such a supportive team has inspired me and shown how important public galleries are and the fabulous work they do!"

Thank you Kiara! 🤩 Kiara is pictured here with one of the artworks that she has been researching during her internship - 'Untitled (wall hanging)' c. 1975 by Ben Shearer.

Ben Shearer is a weaver, textile designer, watercolour painter and teacher. He studied textile design in Geelong and Scotland, and worked as a commercial carpet designer before becoming a full-time weaver and painter. Shearer produced woven artworks between 1962 and 1980, before shifting his practice focus to watercolour paintings.

While Shearer’s watercolour practice now focusses on his interpretations of the Australian landscape, the influence of his earlier studies and work with textiles can be seen in the textured surface of his paintings.

Ararat Gallery TAMA began collecting textile art in the 1970s, during a period when textiles and fibre were being redefined as a contemporary art form rather than confined to craft traditions. While this artwork was donated to the TAMA Collection in 1997, the work was made in the 1970s, representing that pivotal era in Australian art history.

Some films leave a lasting impression, and The Passion of Joan of Arc is one of them.

This October, Federation University’s Arts Academy and Future Regions Research Centre will present a world-first performance that brings this 1928 silent masterpiece to life in a way that has never been experienced before.

As the closing highlight of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale, the film will be screened with a specially curated live score of gothic-inspired music by French composer Erik Satie. Arts Academy Director Professor Richard Chew has adapted the music for this performance and will lead an ensemble that includes soprano Kate MacFarlane, the Vox Chamber Choir, organist Rhys Boak, violinist Varvara Vakhrameeva and cellist Lachlan Dent.

Before the screening, audiences are invited to a free public lecture by Professor Steven Adams, a visiting expert on French visual culture from the University of Hertfordshire. His lecture will explore the cultural legacy and enduring power of the film, and will be accompanied by a special musical performance by Professor Chew and Ms MacFarlane.

This is a rare opportunity to experience cinema, music and history in conversation, right here in Ballarat.

Lecture
Post Office Box Theatre, Arts Academy, Federation University, 7 Camp Street, Ballarat Central
Saturday 18 October, 6.00 pm

Screening
Ballarat Performing Arts Community (former Neill Street Uniting Church)
Sunday 19 October, 7.30 pm

Tickets for the screening are available at: https://bit.ly/46yNoZj

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Four of our Federation Arts Academy grads are shining on stage in the Melbourne production of Legally Blonde The Musical.

Emily McDougall (Elle Woods), Jackson Cross (Emmett), Azriel Halge (Sundeep) and Isabelle Pascua (Delta Nu ensemble) all ended up in the same cast, completely by chance.

“I showed up to the first day of rehearsals and saw so many familiar faces, it was a complete coincidence,” Emily said.

She first fell in love with the musical at 14 and says playing Elle Woods feels extra special. “She’s smart and savvy and embodies a kindness that drives the story forward. I really want people to come away from the show feeling a sense of positivity and optimism.”

Associate Professor Angela Campbell, Acting Director of the Arts Academy, said it’s great to see our graduates stepping confidently into the industry. “It’s a big shift moving from uni into the workplace, especially in the performing arts. We focus on making that transition feel a little less daunting, so our students feel ready to perform and be themselves.”

The show runs until 27 July at The National Theatre in St Kilda. If you're keen for a feel-good night of comedy, dancing and big musical numbers, check it out: http://nationaltheatre.org.au/

August is about to sound a whole lot better!

We open our Month of Sundays concert series on Sunday 3 August at 2.30 pm in the heritage-listed Old Courthouse, Ballarat. After twenty-five years on stage, seventy-five new Australian pieces and tours across four continents, the Flinders Quartet still makes every note feel fresh.

Their set moves from Mozart’s dramatic Adagio and Fugue in C minor to Borodin’s warm Second Quartet, then lands firmly in 2025 with the premiere of The Letter Writing Project by Melody Eötvös and Rishin Singh. One tight hour of music, three centuries of style changes, zero winter blues.

Tickets are available now: https://bit.ly/3IBezGm

Ever wondered what our Visual Arts students have been working on behind the scenes? BENCHMARK25 is your chance to find out.

Running from Friday 27 June to Friday 18 July, this annual exhibition brings together new work by twenty-three students currently studying the Bachelor of Visual Arts and the Bachelor of Secondary Education. You'll see a wide mix of ideas, styles, and materials, from charcoal portraits to conceptual installations, thoughtfully curated and displayed in a professional gallery setting.

It's a big moment for our students. For many, it's the first time seeing their work outside the studio and sharing it with the public. That mix of pride and nerves? All part of the experience.

You can visit the exhibition at the Post Office Gallery in Ballarat. It's open Thursdays and Fridays from 12.30 pm to 5.00 pm, and on Tuesdays and Wednesdays by appointment.

Come along, bring a friend, and support the next generation of artists.
Post Office Gallery, Federation University Ballarat
Friday 27 June to Friday 18 July

Image: Nasci Lethlean, Altered Self-Portrait, 2025, charcoal on Fabriano paper, 100 x 70 cm. Courtesy of the artist.

Find out more: https://bit.ly/4lfhDtg

Mid-sem break got you missing the studios, the stage, and the vibes? Same. So we made you a virtual tour. 🎨🎭 #FedUni #ArtsAcademy #CampStreet #UniTour

We're inviting you to The Master Potter: A Retrospective of the Works of Peter Pilven.

As a Federation University alumnus and long-serving teacher, he spent over 40 years guiding generations of visual arts students and building a strong creative legacy in our region.

Now, his life’s work is being honoured in a new exhibition at Ross Creek Gallery. The retrospective brings together Peter’s striking ceramic pieces, offering a glimpse into a career defined by craft, colour and connection.

Peter’s daughter Ruby Pilven, who completed her Master of Education with us, runs the gallery and continues her family’s deep connection to the arts and to Federation University.

The Master Potter: Peter Pilven – A Retrospective of His Works will open with an event on Saturday 3 May 2025 from 1 pm to 4 pm, with the exhibition on display every weekend until 8 June at Ross Creek Gallery in Smythes Creek.

You can learn more about the exhibition: https://bit.ly/3RP4KZC