On Wednesday 21 August, the Adelaide Perry Gallery hosted a celebration event to mark the closing of ARTEXPRESSION 2024, showcasing PLC Sydney’s HSC Visual Arts Bodies of Work. The evening was filled with excitement, recognition and heartfelt speeches, celebrating the dedication and creativity of the students.

Jasmine Gifford, Jeannette Siebols, Jen Gair and Anna Wang.

Dr Paul Burgis, Principal of PLC Sydney, warmly welcomed attendees to begin the official proceedings. He commended the students for their impressive achievement in bringing the exhibition to life, expressing gratitude to the parents, families, and friends who have supported these young artists throughout the year.

The evening featured a special guest, local artist Jeannette Siebols, who was introduced by Curator Jen Gair. Siebols praised the students for their commitment to pursuing Visual Arts as an HSC subject and applauded the high standard of their works. She also extended her congratulations to the Visual Arts staff for curating such a remarkable selection.

A significant moment of the evening was the handover ceremony from the 2024 Art & Design Captain, Anna Wang, to the 2025 Captain, Jasmine Gifford. Anna reflected on the challenges and triumphs faced by her cohort, expressing admiration for her peers' accomplishments and gratitude for the support from teachers and The Croydon staff. In recognition of her contributions, Jasmine presented Anna with a gift on behalf of the students and staff.

Jo Knight, Head of Visual Arts, addressed the crowd, speaking with pride about the students' achievements, dedication and bravery in their HSC Visual Arts journey. She expressed how honoured she and Jen were to have guided these talented students through such a critical stage of their artistic education.

Certificates for Outstanding Commitment, Technical Skill, and Aesthetic Refinement were presented to Lola Birley, Emma Ni, Emilie Johansson, and Mabel Mei. In addition, 2023 Art & Design Captain Miss Amelia Rand, who visited the exhibition earlier, awarded the Captain’s Choice Award to Honey Wiepjes. The prestigious annual Mr Paxton Award was presented to Joanne Kim.

Award winners Lola Birley, Mabel Mei, Emma Ni and Emilie Johansson.

Bringing the evening to a heartfelt close, HSC Visual Art students Sarah McPhail, Dalia Hamade, Lola Birley, and Ella Simmonds took to the stage to thank their teachers for their unwavering support and guidance. They presented gifts to Jo Knight and Jen Gair, expressing the collective gratitude of the students for an unforgettable year of artistic growth and achievement.

The ARTEXPRESSION 2024 event celebrated art and was a testament to the power of creativity, dedication and community.