Faces From Our Town is a series of school-based photographic portraiture workshops hosted by Tasmanian schools and presented by photographer and teacher Paul County with support from The Tasmanian Art Teachers Association and other project partners.

A major goal is to encourage students to be curious and experiment and learn how to plan, develop and create unique artworks which challenge the conventions of what is a portrait.

• Students will learn about the history of Australian photography and how it has shaped our Australian identity by examining images from influential Australian and international photographers and artists.

• The workshops will also address important issues regarding body image and how the manipulated and unrealistic images of individuals are often portrayed in social media as ‘normal’.

• The workshop will also examine how images are incredibly powerful and there are ethics and responsibilities around making and sharing images on social media. 

• Students will also learn through hands on experiences how to produce original high quality artworks in a world where images are easily manipulated and artificially generated. 

• Students will assist in producing a formal portrait of an invited guest who has story about their migration to Tasmania or their Palawa history. The portraits will also include Tasmanian artists and musicians whose art work tells their story. The final images and stories to form the Faces From Our Town exhibition.