VCE Art Making and Exhibiting – NGV and ACCA Excursion

Students studying Unit 2 and Unit 4 of VCE Art Making and Exhibiting recently participated in an excursion to visit two major exhibitions in the city, supporting their understanding of curatorial decision-making, thematic presentation, and art conservation.

The first stop was the National Gallery of Victoria International (NGV), where students explored the French Impressionism exhibition. On loan from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, this exhibition features iconic works by Monet, Degas, Manet, Pissarro and Renoir. The curatorial choices—particularly the thematic groupings and the spatial flow—provided students with a clear and accessible example of effective exhibition design, making it highly relevant to their current assessments. The educational talk the students took part in made explicit and detailed connections between this exhibition and their studies.

Following this, students visited the Five Acts of Love exhibition at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA). Curated by Nur Shkembi, this conceptually driven show features twelve local and international artists working across a range of media. The exhibition explores the complex and often unexpected expressions of love, positioning it as a deeply human act that moves beyond cliché or romantic conventions.

Experiencing both exhibitions in one day offered students a valuable opportunity to compare contrasting curatorial approaches and artistic intentions. The shift from historical works to contemporary conceptual practice deepened the students’ understanding of how exhibitions communicate meaning and engage audiences.

Catherine Finnigan – Teacher

Year 10 Inspire Program Launches Service Leadership Initiative

As part of the Year 10 Inspire program, our students are excited to embark on a meaningful Service Leadership Initiative this Term 3. Each Tutor Group has chosen a

specific community service organisation to advocate for, with the aim of raising awareness and support within the BMG community.

Throughout the term, students within each Tutor Group will actively promote their chosen organisations through various channels, including newsletters, Schoolbox flyers and other school communications. They will also organise engaging activities designed to inform and involve the school community, encouraging everyone to learn more about the important work these organisations do.

This initiative not only fosters leadership skills and community engagement among our students, but also helps build a stronger connection between BMG and the wider community. We warmly invite and encourage all members of our school community to support the Year 10 students as they lead these important advocacy efforts.

Together, we can make a positive impact and inspire others to get involved!

Natalie Desira – Head of Senior School, Tenielle Brown – Deputy Head of Senior School and Ainslee Grinter – Head of Year 10

 

Year 11/12 joint excursion to the Alliance Francaise in Melbourne

On Monday 28 July the Year 11 and 12 students of French at both Maddingley and Woodlea Campuses attended a workshop in Melbourne. This was delivered by the Alliance française, whose aim is to promote the learning of the French language thought the world.

See our student reflections below.

Mariam:
When I first heard the phrase “La Belle Époque”, I thought it was about an Art Period. I also thought it was a time of prosperity in France. At the workshop, I learned about the different types of social status in France during “The Beautiful Era” (Belle Époque) from our educator Cecil. When we tried between these social classes by looking at paintings, I didn’t realise fabric and how clothes are made could be a key to differentiate between the social classes. Shocking, wouldn’t you say? As I learned about these classes, I learned that there were social conflicts and tragedy was common like the cold is today. Quite the opposite to what I thought about this period. I enjoyed the aspect of working in a group, as it was enjoyable and interactive as opposed to working alone. I also enjoyed eating brioche bread (Butter is the secret!) with blackberry jam. The workshop was delivered by worksheet material, which differed from person to person, which was why we worked together. I now know about the various types of French landmarks, beside the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, of course! I could connect with a French movie named Dilili a Paris, as a few of the historical figures we learned about were also in the film.

Amarleen:
A Glimpse into La Belle Époque: A Cultural Excursion to the Alliance Française
On Monday, I had the privilege of attending a French excursion to the Alliance Française in Melbourne, where we participated in a workshop centred on “La Belle Époque”, a vibrant and transformative era in French history spanning from 1870 to 1914. We explored how this period was defined by artistic and technological innovation, evolving class structures, and a deep sense of national optimism after years of political unrest.
I learned about key historical figures such as Gustave Eiffel and Marie Curie, whose groundbreaking work in science challenged social norms and expanded the boundaries of knowledge. The divide between the working class and the elite was especially eye-opening, as was the way infrastructure, like the Paris Métro, reflected both progress and inequality.
The workshop was interactive and thoughtfully structured, featuring visual presentations, group activities and even a tasting of authentic brioche bread, which added a cultural touch. A highlight for me was connecting what we learned to the animated film Dilili à Paris, which we
studied in class. The film brought the era to life and the workshop helped me better understand the social and historical context behind it.
Overall, the excursion enriched my appreciation of French history and culture and left me inspired by the enduring legacy of La Belle Époque.

All the students would like to thank Mr Genicot, Mrs Neal and Mr Malcolm for organising this trip – we do know how much additional work goes on behind the scenes in order to allow us to participate in these kinds of events.