A student-led recyclable art project and an socially responsible MBA program have been selected as finalists in the 2019 Green Gown Awards Australasia.

The Green Gown Awards are now in their 10th year, and recognise excellence in sustainability across the tertiary education sector.

Sustainable art

‘Everything is connected’ by Ronda Sharpe

Students at the Queensland College of Art partnered with Flight Centre on a stunning sustainable art exhibition, Morphosis.

The students repurposed, redesigned and recycled materials to create stunning works of art, using bed linens, data cables, plastic bottles, CDs and bubble wrap.

The exhibition, which included sculpture, video installation, paintings and photography went on display at the QCA’s Grey Street Gallery and the Flight Centre foyer in South Bank.

Queensland College of Art doctoral candidate Claire Tracey curated the exhibition, after completing several sustainable artworks during a residency at Flight Centre’s global headquarters at South Bank last year.

Metamorphoses by Claire Tracey

“My doctorate examines arts-led engagement, so I approached Flight Centre last year about how we could work together,” she said.

“They are based right across the road from the QCA at South Bank, and they share the university’s commitment to sustainability, so it made sense to team up.”

‘Trophy Speciman’ by Priscilla Bracks and Gavin Sade

Claire became aware of other students at the QCA working with sustainable materials and decided to put together an exhibition to showcase their work.

“There are a lot of students working in this space who are really pushing the boundaries,” she said.

“It was a great chance for students to exhibit their work off-campus, explore sustainable transformations, and look at how art can guide the way to a greener society.”

Queensland College of Art Director Professor Derrick Cherrie said the exhibition was a model of collaboration between big business and emerging artists.

“It’s a fabulous example of a large organisation with a keen interest in environmental issues working with creative young people who want to express their desire to improve the environment,” he said.

‘Business for good’

Griffith Business School is a finalist in the Learning, Teaching and Skills category for its innovative Global Goals Masters Programs.

The School has created a suite of programs that include compulsory elements of ethics education, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), social business, as well as socially responsible strategy and innovation across key postgrad-level programs, including the MBA.

The courses are designed to encourage the next generation of business leaders to build a better, more sustainable world.

Griffith Business School’s MBA program recently ranked number four globally in the Corporate Knights 2018 Better World MBA ranking, which recognised Griffith’s focus on socially responsible and sustainable corporate practices.

Going green at Griffith

Deputy Vice Chancellor (Engagement) Professor Martin Betts said that Griffith was globally recognised for its innovative and effective sustainable practices.

“Griffith is proudly committed to sustainability and has worked since its founding to embed sustainable practices into all that we do.”

The winners of the 2019 Green Gown Awards will be announced at a gala ceremony at Larnach Castle in Dunedin, New Zealand on 14 November.