Moving to a new school at the beginning of your final year of secondary schooling would be a challenge for any student. For Chelsea Dillon, it was a chance to realise her potential in the Visual Arts.
“I’ve always wanted to further my studies in visual communication and graphic design and I loved how I was able to immerse myself in a wide variety of art subjects,” Chelsea says. “Bendigo Senior gave me the chance to achieve my highest potential in Visual Communication Design and Studio Art: Photography.”
One of the opportunities that came her way was the Margaret Standen Bursary, allowing her to buy the materials she needed to produce folios she hopes will take her to further study in the Arts beyond Year 12.
The Standen Bursary honours much-admired art teacher, Margaret Standen, whose untimely death in 2017 was a tragic loss, not only for her family, but for the many staff and students who were inspired by her. Her husband, Peter, generously established the bursary in her honour, and all Year 12 students studying Studio Arts or Art General at BSSC are eligible to apply.
“I’ve used the bursary to purchase printer cartridges, lino printing blocks, black and white markers and different types of tape to help continue the creation of artworks throughout remote learning,” Chelsea says.
She has also used the bursary to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, but these were for the studio rather than the kitchen.
“I decided to dedicate my Photography folio to the theme of food,” she says. “I’ve been able to learn new skills in photography, extend my creative ideas further, and trial techniques that I hadn’t heard of before I came to BSSC.”
Chelsea says it’s been a particularly challenging year for students studying Visual Arts.
The Standen Bursary has eased the pressure and allowed me to create an artistic environment at home,” she says. “All my teachers have been really supportive too and helped me overcome the challenges we’ve all faced this year.”
