The Junction Co. brings you My Bloody Awesome Journal
Regional Arts WA
This story was submitted by a member of the regional arts sector: The Junction Co. We love sharing stories from the sector. If you want to find out how to submit your own stories, take a look at the submit your story page. We can’t wait to hear from you!
If you want more information on the My Blood Awesome Journal program, or to run it in your community, you can contact project lead Jane McGowan at jane@thejunctionco.com.au or 9141 0041.
Teenagers, young and old, are invited to create their own “Bloody Awesome Journal”, alongside some of the Pilbara’s most creative artists and facilitators.
The Junction Co. created the project in response to an identified need amongst local engage artists who have been financial impacted by the pandemic, seeing the possibility of an online project as a great way to enhance and develop skills around imagination, connectedness and reflection during this time of isolation.
My Bloody Awesome Journal works by distributing journalling kits to young participants, so where they can collect their thoughts, ideas and artist skills in one place. Not only do they learn to reflect on their life but the book itself become something to reflect on at a later stage as well.
There’s already been a great response to the series with the regional centres of Tom Price, City of Karratha and The Port Hedland School of the Air all taking journal kits. With support coming from agencies across the Pilbara, including the Town of Port Hedland, Tom Price’s Nintirri Centre, Well Women’s Centre and the City of Karratha, the journal project seeks to engage, grow and empower Pilbara youth through the weekly online video release of eight creative projects (some of which have already been released).
Picture by Amelia Blanco.
Each video is facilitated by Pilbara-based creatives. As Katie Evans, Executive Officer of The Junction Co. explains, “The activities and artists selected as part of this project, create a sense of mindfulness and calm for participants to discover new ways to express their feeling during these uncertain times.”
The Journal project has enabled exciting new collaborations to develop between agencies. As well, it has enabled regional creatives to connect with their peers, learn from each other, hone their artistic practice, and consider how to present in a film tutorial format, a new way of communication for many workshop facilitator artists.
“It has been brilliant to get a strong and established relationship between the Nintirri Arts Hub based in Tom Price, and the Junction Co in Hedland. Ideally, I’d love us all to be linked through Para and Newman too and this project will allow us to do that.”
– Nintirri arts worker, and Salty Sea artist Nell Harris
Through this innovative project, The Junction Co. have been able to engage microbusinesses who have also been affected by COVID-19. AB Videography were engaged to film and produce the weekly video episodes in collaboration with North West Entertainment Services, an events business that lost their main income due to COVID- 19. Through the collaboration, AB Videography was not only able to utilise Matt’s audio engineering experience to aid in the production of the series, but also able to upskill his business in video production and editing.
AB Videography Amelia Blanco notes “I have also been able to take my business from a side business to a full time career, something I’d be working toward for a long time. During the project I was not only able to help further the skills of the other filmmakers and creatives we have worked with on this project but I am now in the process of offering young people with a passion for film making an opportunity to gain experience and pursue their passion with my business.”
Nintirri facilitator Nell Harris with Amelia Blanco from AB Videography. Picture by Matt Dibbs.
The journal project creative director and community coordinator, Jane McGowan emphasises, “This project ticks a number of collaboration and employment boxes, but at the heart of the project is emphasising, art + craft activities and creating are an important and vital way to help process feelings of disconnection and isolation, and develop resilient mindful thinkers.
“The Junction Co. will use the My Bloody Awesome Journal project as part of new partnership with Act-Belong-Commit, as it aligns with the need to keep mentally healthy, which is just as important as staying physically healthy. The Junction Co. are working towards this project being rolled out across the State, benefiting the broader Western Australian community, working closely with regional high schools to adopt the program so that we can reach more teens.”
As Andy Clarke from the City of Karratha highlights, “Our hope as facilitators is to make creative learning and cultural engagement as accessible as possible. It’s clear, particularly in Regional areas like the Pilbara, that distance is no longer a barrier to learning and engaging.”
For further information please reach out to project lead, Jane McGowan via jane@thejunctionco.com.au or 9141 0041.
