Healing through arts- Lisa O’Beirne hopes to further

By Casey Neill
Creative art therapist Lisa O’Beirne is calling on singers, musicians, dancers, painters, sculptors, poets and writers to take part in a workshop series and performance at Burrinja to mark International Year of Reconciliation.
Ms O’Beirne said the Arts for Reconciliation project would acknowledge the Wurundjeri people and Kulin nation and support emerging indigenous artists.
“The workshops are opportunity to explore a sense of ‘living awareness’ of Wurundjeri people, explore notions of reconciliation and be inspired by the original custodians of the area,” Ms O’Beirne said.
Ms O’Beirne uses music, art and movement to heal in her work, and applies these techniques to active reconciliation.
“Creating art in any form becomes a creative process that can open the mind and heart, access new realisations and awareness of oneself, and be a vehicle for communicating to others,” she said.
“Expressing intention for reconciliation beyond saying sorry through art is a starting point to connect with indigenous people.”
The workshops will culminate in a collaborative final performance at Burrinja. “Visual artworks could be projected as stage sets,” she said.
“Music could accompany dance, and poetry or story create the thread to weave the performance together.”
Ms O’Beirne hopes to get about 20 artists involved.
RMIT University’s Student Entrepreneurship, Education and Development in Society (SEEDS) program will support the project.
The initiative helps to establish and support student projects that help communities grow.
The workshops will be held at Burrinja, 351 Glenfern Road, Upwey from 11am to 4pm on 1, 8, 15 and 22 August. A final rehearsal and performance will follow.
Participation in the Arts for Reconciliation project is $100 for all four sessions or $35 for each single session and includes all art materials. More information is available by calling Lisa O’Beirne on 0400 832 900 or sending an email to lisa.obeirne@gmail.com.