Phoenix: Art program to engage and enrich at risk youth.

Phoenix public sculpture will be developed and made in collaboration with the students and community of Blackwood Centre For Adolescent Development, (early intervention education program for youth at risk) with an internationally-renowned contemporary artist.

The Phoenix sculpture will symbolise transformation, representing the new life that emerges after bushfires have blackened the landscape. This sculpture will represent Blackwood’s positive influence on the lives of students, past and present, who face youth suicide, homelessness, substance abuse, violence, and neglect.

The unique environment of Blackwood creates important space for profound personal growth, and Phoenix will be an expansive and enduring inspirational emblem.

Phoenix public sculpture addresses an important need for the Blackwood community to have strong symbols that inspire the imagination of students as they strive to transform their lives. The positive impact this project will have on students is an essential component for encouraging personal growth and connection far into the future.

Involvement with the arts at this level of expertise provides unparalleled opportunities for learning that enables young people to reach for and attain higher levels of achievement overall.

The public sculpture creates a central place of gathering and social interaction, which encourages and generates connectivity through a shared ownership.