INTERNATIONAL AR T
A dedicated creative arts teacher at St Margaret Mary’s College has travelled to Portugal for the 2018 Urban Sketchers Symposium.
Michael Pope received Regional Arts Development Funding ( RADF) to travel to the ninth annual four- day event with workshops, lectures, sketch walks and networking with city chapters of Urban Sketchers ( USK) associated with urban sketching.
While sketching outdoors is nothing new, USK is an international movement which started in 2007 that sees groups of people drawing outside together. Mr Pope founded an USK chapter in Townsville in early 2017.
Mr Pope said his group went out every Monday to draw at various locations around Townsville City.
“It’s free to come along and draw and the emphasis is on participation rather than skill; your only obligation is to post your drawing afterwards,” he said.
St Margaret Mary’s College principal Kathy Park said Mr Pope was an inspirational teacher who brought out the best in students with a calm, encouraging approach.
“His talent and ability as an artist transfers beautifully into his lessons,” she said. “I look forward to his return from this exceptional opportunity in Portugal and his upcoming exhibit.
“Teachers of the arts at SMMC are experts in their chosen discipline and our students benefit.”
Michael will fly to Lisbon and sketch in Portugal before attending the symposium.
Upon his return, Michael will have an exhibition in the Vault Space at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery and deliver drawing workshops and talks.