Djamu Youth Justice

Since 2017, Djamu Youth Justice has been delivered at Reiby Youth Justice Centre (Campbelltown) and Cobham Youth Justice Centre (St Marys). Responsive to transient youth populations and contextual policies and procedures, the program has been structured to provide a series of artmaking experiences that can be completed in 2 x 1.5-hour sessions. Contributing artists have included Julie Freeman, Andrew Snelgar and James Tylor.

Ongoing benefactor support has provided the opportunity to shift delivery from a series of one-day workshops to a sustained project-based model. In 2020, the Gallery collaborated with James Tylor to develop a 15-week Shield Project to be delivered at Frank Baxter Youth Justice Centre (Kariong). To address the transient youth population and provide sustained engagement, the collaborative nature of the Shield Project allowed participants to engage, regardless of what stage they entered the project. Working also with varying artist availability, the sustained structure only required James Tylor to deliver the initial, mid-point and concluding sessions, with the remainder facilitated by the Gallery’s Indigenous Educators.

To further support participants understanding, the Gallery produced a film project shot in Numeralla, which explored the materials and processes involved in the lead up to the 15-week Shield Project. Content developed participants understanding of the selection of timbers appropriate to the type of shield being produced, sustainable methods of collection to ensure minimal environmental impact, site visits, sharing of cultural knowledge and discussions highlighting the significance of the relationship between the shield and shield designs. The project complemented existing Gallery resources that explore the tradition of linework in the south-east, particularly the landmark exhibition, Murruwaygu, and recent acquisition of a Sydney broad shield.

The Gallery has identified that Indigenous young people in the New South Wales Youth Justice System (NSW YJS) detention are need of support. Detention rates for Indigenous children in Australia are currently 28 times greater than non-Indigenous children, and New South Wales has the greatest number of children in custody of any state. Indigenous children are particularly at risk of incarceration, being 3 times more likely than non-Indigenous children to be sent to court rather than be cautioned. Research suggests that participation in youth justice art programs results in increased self–esteem and self–discipline, heightening the chances of successful rehabilitation. Djamu Youth Justice aims to reconnect young people with art and culture to strengthen their sense of identity and belonging, along with giving them a positive outlet from within the confines of the New South Wales Youth Justice System.

 Using the Gallery’s education resource, Home: Aboriginal art from New South Wales as the basis for exploring Aboriginal art practice within New South Wales, the Gallery has delivered a series of artmaking workshops, artist talks and discussion sessions for both young people in custody and Department of Education and Department of Youth Justice staff. The program aims to address the following outcomes:

• Aid the rehabilitation of youth offenders through creating meaningful connections to art and culture.

• Create positive relationships between youth offenders and members of the Aboriginal arts community.

• Create mentorship and vocational pathways for youth offenders post release.

• Enable Indigenous students and their educators in the NSW YJS to better understand and appreciate the richness and diversity of Aboriginal art and culture in New South Wales.

• Encourage educators and programs staff in the NSW YJS to meaningfully utilise the Home resource to engage students with cultural material from within New South Wales on an ongoing basis.

• Support educators in the NSW YJS to develop skills in visual art education and confidence in delivering Aboriginal art content. 

• Improve cultural awareness among educators in the NSW YJS, strengthening relationships between NSW YJS staff and youth offenders.

2017
Andrew Snelgar, Roy Kennedy, Tony Albert

2018
Jonathan Jones, Kent Morris, Andrew Snelgar, James Tylor, Julie Freeman

2019
Hayley Millar Baker, Cheryl Davison, Andrew Snelgar

2020
James Tylor

2021
Lucy Simpson, Tom Barker