Upcoming Projects

2023 Karungkarni Students. Image by David O'Brien.

Karungkarni Arts Centre

Semester 2, 2024

The award-winning Bower Studio was formed in 2008 and works with indigenous communities in remote Australia and Papua New Guinea. What makes this program so relevant is the way students travel to these communities to work alongside locals on important community development projects.

Teams of Bower Studio students have co-designed and co-built culture facilities with the Kalkaringi community since 2014. The relationship has strengthened year by year and several projects have now been completed.

We have been invited to compliment the work Bower Studio completed at the local Karungkarni Arts Centre in 2018 and 2023 when teams worked with the community to double the space available to artists in a culturally appropriate and sustainable way.

The artists have asked us to improve the exhibition spaces and storage facilities inside the arts centre so that the artworks can be displayed properly.

Consultations are on-going and we will have the required sketch designs and ‘kit-of-parts’ prepared in time for us to begin work on-site in Kalkaringi early in semester 2 2024. You will travel to the Northern Territory (Darwin) by plane before car-pooling and driving down to Kalkaringi for a ten-day site construction program.

Returning to Melbourne you will prepare your own design for new culture spaces following the community consultations that will occur on-site at Kalkaringi.

Eligibility

Masters level design students enrolled in Design C, D, E or Thesis at the Melbourne School of Design are eligible to join the program.

Applications

You can show your interest (and improve your selection chances) by sending an email directly to the Bower Studio team.

Tell us why you are excited about visiting remote parts of Australia and working with the Karungkarni mob. It would be good for us to know if you are applying to have this processed as a Design C, D, or E subject or if you would like to do the project as Design Thesis. Add your telephone number in case we have any questions.

Please be aware that this project includes extended time ‘on-country’, travel, hard work and some very basic accommodation and food. Check the student blog on the Bower Studio website to get some idea of the students’ experience.

FAQ

How do you travel to the community?

A lot of Bower Studio learning takes place ‘on-country’ and Kalkaringi is a long way away. Students fly to Darwin and car-share 4WD vehicles to travel to the community.

Where do we stay at Kalkaringi?

There is a shortage of housing and no hotels at Kalkaringi so we stay at the various campsites surrounding the community.

What if I haven’t got any camping experience?

No problem – we have had plenty of students joining us for their first camping trip. You will be in safe hands.

I understand that there is a lot of ‘hands-on’ building to do. Do I need to have building experience?

We will teach everyone how to safely use the tools required for the project. You will feel like a pro when you return!

Is it easy to make friends with the rest of the students?

A definite yes to this one. Really strong friendships have emerged within groups of Bower students as they share a lifechanging experience together.

How much will this cost?

The university is offering a $1000 bursary to participating students. This should be enough to cover your flights to Darwin and back and your share of the 4WD hire. You will need to cover fuel costs and your contribution to the food budget (around $600). Accommodation is free if you have your own tent, sleeping mat and bag.

Is there time for me to do any sightseeing at the national parks in the Northern Territory?

Yes previous student groups have extended the trip and visited various waterholes.

Further information

Contact Dr David O’Brien

Staff

The teaching staff includes David O’Brien, James Neil, Zoe Diacolabrianos (Bower 2013), and Gina Dahl (Bower 2021).