The Schools’ Reconciliation Challenge is a NSW Government initiative, held each year in both art and writing competitions for NSW school students in years 5 to 9.

The initiative gives young people across the state the opportunity to learn about and engage with Aboriginal cultures, histories and issues in an engaging, stimulating and creative way.

Students were asked to create artworks inspired by a reconciliation-related theme, and to reflect on what reconciliation means to them. This years theme was “Always Was, Always Will Be”.  More than a thousand entries from 74 different schools across the state were received.

Sixteen student artworks will be put on display at a series of National Trust venues around NSW. Starting off at the National Trust Observatory Hill, before travelling to Cooma Cottage Yass, where they will feature in local arts festival Sculpture In The Paddock.

After that, they will spend six months travelling around the state, from Saumarez Homesteadin Armidale, to Woodford Academy  in the Blue Mountains, to Dundullimal Homestead in Dubbo.

“When we received the call to ask whether we would host the artworks we jumped at it straight away,” organiser of Sculpture in the Paddock, Al Phemister said. “It is exactly what we want to do, create a space where people can come and enjoy art, of any form, without expenses in a small place like Yass.” 

Mr Phemister has tried to focus on encouraging young or aspiring artist to this years event, evident by the inclusion of the Yass Soldiers Club encouragement award.

“Local students and students from Canberra will also be exhibiting inside Cooma Cottage for the duration of Sculpture in the Paddock,” he said.  

Sculpture in the Paddock will be officially launched on September 16 at 5pm at Cooma Cottage and will run until October 9 and will be open each day from 10am until 4pm.

Everyone is invited to attend the opening that will be MC'd by Genevieve Jacobs from ABC 666 Radio Canberra and officially opened by artist Harriett Elvin.