See Your Place, Tell Your Story

Would you like to help empower learners of all ages to observe, photograph, and share the stories of Timaru’s local environment, heritage, and community life—through your own lens. Together we can connect, share, encourage curiosity, empathy, and stewardship by connecting people more deeply to our place.

Take a photos and write about what it shows and why it matters.

Visit a location and be curious... What do you notice? What’s happening in this scene? What questions do you have about this place?

Seek the Story... What story does this image tell about Timaru and wider area? Whose stories are here? Who is connected to this space? What might this teach someone who doesn’t live here?

Reflect and use the Explorer Mindset to deepen your thinking:

  • Curious What questions are sparked by what you see?
  • Empathetic Whose voices or histories might be present or missing here?
  • Empowered What small action could protect or celebrate this place?
  • Collaborative Who could you share this story with? Could you tell it together?

How can you share your view on the world? You could 

  • Create a digital or physical photo exhibit library, hall, gallery, window, online...

  • Invite others to participate.

  • Include quotes, voice recordings, or short videos from participants describing their image.

  • Use this to support education goals (literacy, science, social studies) to help us learn where we have come from, who we are, where we are going and celebrate diversity and place-based knowledge.

 

 

First thing... relax. The wonderful thing about art, is there is no wrong or right, it is open to the creators concept and ideas, and the person interacting with the art can take away their own meanings and feelings.

Be Curious

  • What do you notice first?

  • What details stand out? What materials or techniques are used?

  • What questions come to mind as you look at this artwork?

Ask yourself: Why was this created? What story is it telling? What inspired it?

Seek Interconnections

  • How does this piece connect to the world around you?

  • Can you link it to a time in history, a place, a culture, or a personal experience?

Ask yourself: Can you look for the relationship between art, people, and the environment.

Be Empathetic

  • Who is represented here? Whose voice or perspective is this?

  • How does the artwork make you feel? Why?

  • Can you imagine the artist’s intention or the emotions behind the piece?

Ask yourself: Can you find value diverse stories, emotions, and cultural expressions.

Communicate

  • How would you describe this artwork to someone else?

  • What story does this piece tell? Can you retell it in your own words — or through your own creative expression (drawing, writing, dance, photography)?

Ask yourself: Can you be a storyteller too, communicate with clarity and passion.

Be Empowered

  • What message or action does this artwork inspire in you?

  • Does it challenge you to see something differently or take action?

Ask yourself: Are you moved to protect, advocate, or create change.

Collaborate

  • Who would you explore this with?

  • Could you co-create a response or interpretation with others?

Ask yourself: Can you include others, learning together across backgrounds and perspectives.

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