The Power of Protest: Young People’s Climate Action is a new display in the Centre of Democracy. The display features placards made by students for the school strikes in October 2021 alongside photos of the protests taken by photographer Neville Cichon.
The School Strike 4 Climate (SS4C) movement in Australia coordinated Friday school strike action around the country in 2021 to allow young people the chance to be heard by policy makers. It is a part of the international movement that has seen millions of school students around the world take to the streets. Through the strikes, students use people power to have an impact on public opinion and decision makers. Active citizenship, in this case in the form of public protest, is one way that youth who want to engage in the political landscape can have an impact before they turn 18.
Placards are a succinct and creative way to share an individual voice within a mass action. Come in to the gallery to see not only the placards made by students, but to read, in their words, why they chose their message and why they joined the protest.
BACKGROUND
After photographing climate protests for a couple of years I developed a curiosity for the placards on display and the ideas, people and motivations behind them.
I arranged to set up a stall at the Festival of Climate Action that coincided with the School Strike 4 Climate march in October 2021. At the end of the formal march there was an open invitation for people to donate the placards that they had just used to march down King William Street. I also asked them to write down a brief response to two questions. Why did you choose this placard design? and Why did you attend the protest?
When I did this I only had general ideas of what I might do with the placards and text gathered. After exploring various options I am very pleased to now have a formal display established at the Centre of Democracy in Adelaide for 6 months (14/7/23 – 26/1/24). The display will be visited by the general public and school groups in particular. Schools will also be encouraged to access an online educational resources to support their exploration of the themes of the power of protest and active citizenship.
OPEN 7 DAYS – FREE ENTRY
MON-FRI 10AM-5PM
SAT & SUN 12-5PM
(Closed Public Holidays)
The Centre of Democracy
Institute Building
Corner of North Terrace and Kintore Avenue
Adelaide, South Australia.
website
Access tip– Press button on wall to open the heavy external door.
This event has happened – OPENING EVENT – 14 JULY, 2023
OPENING EVENT – Come along to the Centre of Democracy to hear a Q & A session with one of the leaders of the Adelaide chapter of the School Strike 4 Climate (SS4C) movement. The SS4C movement in Australia coordinated Friday school strike action around the country in 2021 to allow young people the chance to be heard by policy makers. It is a part of the international movement that has seen millions of school students around the world take to the streets.
Anjali Beames will share with us her insights into active citizenship for under-18s and how and why she got involved in the movement for climate action. Hear some of her reflections on youth engagement with politics and why you don’t have to wait until you’re 18 to have an impact in your community.
This event is connected to new display The Power of Protest: Young People’s Climate Action. 15 Placards made by students for the strikes will be on display alongside 17 of my photographs of the protests. The display will be in the Centre of Democracy gallery from 14 July 2023 until 26 January 2024.
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