Engineering met art on a grand scale last Thursday, when Snowy Hydro CEO, Dennis Barnes, announced a new major sponsorship of the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail (SVST).

The SVST partnership includes funding from Snowy Hydro for seven new sculptures and a school education program aimed at delivering artist-led sculpture workshops to more than 1,500 school children in the Snowy Valleys Region.

“Snowy Hydro is proud to take on the role of Major Partner of the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail, a partnership that underscores our long-term, ongoing commitment to the local communities we operate in,” Mr Barnes said.

“The Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail is celebrated for its eye-catching outdoor art installations throughout the picturesque Snowy Valleys region and our support will enhance the trail’s reach, making it more accessible and engaging for both residents and visitors alike.

“We hope it will also draw more tourists to the region, thereby benefiting the local economy.”

The seven new Snowy Hydro-funded sculptures will be leased and installed over the next two years adding to the 35 existing artworks located between Adelong and Tooma including the historic towns of Batlow, Talbingo and Tumbarumba.

A key element of Snowy Hydro’s exciting partnership with SVST is the School Education Program.

This program will bring artist-led sculpture workshops to 14 primary schools in the Snowy Valleys Region, along with two schools in Cooma and the Adaminaby Public School.

Students will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of art, creativity and engineering through the added participation of Snowy Hydro engineers in the workshops.

Mr Barnes emphasised the importance of the program, which aligned with Snowy Hydro’s education focus on science, technology, engineering and maths and engaging young people in activities that spark future careers.

“We believe that art and engineering go hand-in-hand, which is why they’re both core parts of our Next Generation Education Academy activities,” he said.

“Sculptures like our hydroelectric projects, require a high level of engineering skill and creativity,” he said.

“By exposing students to these artist-led workshops, we hope to inspire the next generation of engineers and artists right here in our local community.”

Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail Founding CEO & Artistic Director, David Handley, said “It has been a humbling privilege to work with the local communities across the region to create the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail as one of the most important cultural projects in regional Australia.

“Snowy Hydro’s sponsorship means we are able to continue to deliver what we set out to do in providing the School Education Program for free to thousands of students across the Snowy Valleys, while building on the sculpture trail to offer visitors another reason to come back again and again to enjoy this stunning part of Australia.”

“Snowy Hydro looks forward to working closely with the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail team and schools across the region to foster a deeper appreciation for art, engineering and innovation,” Mr Barnes added.

This article appeared in the Corryong Courier, 26 October 2023.