The Undercurrent Education Program is a six-workshop research-based photography project inspired by the practice of local artist Peta Clancy. Students will conduct an in-depth investigation of the Indigenous and colonial histories of their local area sourcing visual and historical research material that will inform a place-responsive and culturally-aware photographic practice of their own.

Peta Clancy is a renowned artist, photographer, senior lecturer at Monash University Art Design and Architecture, Monash University and descendent of the Bangerang people from south-eastern Australia. Her acclaimed photographic series Undercurrent, a body of work made in collaboration with the Dja Dja Wurrung community to investigate massacre sites on Country, was exhibited in the 2019 Ballarat International Foto Biennale’s inaugural exhibition at the National Centre For Photography.

Across six workshops this education program will guide students through a process of place-based and historically informed photographic practice. Inspired by Peta’s own practice, the workshops will lead students through researching Indigenous and colonial histories of a place in your local area, collating and responding to research material, taking photographs in-situ and selecting and presenting a body of photographic artwork.

Each workshop includes an instructional video of Peta Clancy, a text resource, a set of practical activities, examples and resources to support deeper learning, and a thorough explanation of key concepts and terminology drawn from the VCE Studio Art study design. 

For all enquiries, please email education@ballaratfoto.org

(Left) Peta Clancy, Undercurrent, 2018-19, inkjet pigment print, 130 x 92 cm. Courtesy of the artist and Dominik Mersch Gallery
(Right) Peta Clancy, Undercurrent, 2018-19, inkjet pigment print, 130 x 92 cm. Courtesy of the artist and Dominik Mersch Gallery