Miners show their softer side in ambitious workplace arts project

A challenging project which brought together a Tasmanian artist and a team of West Coast mine workers culminated in a community celebration at Rosebery last week.

The town turned out in force for the unveiling of the multi-media exhibition 7470: a community, a mine and its people.

A display of drawings and paintings exploring the relationship between workers and the workplace revealed the creative side of the zinc mine's underground and surface employees.

The evocative artwork was complemented by a presentation of digital images, soundscapes and interviews with mine staff and community members who shared their vision of what the 115-year-old mine means to Rosebery.

The ambitious project was a partnership between arts@work, the Australia Business Arts Foundation (AbaF) and mine operator Zinifex.

It was a bold move for the three main players who put their faith in accomplished textile and photo media artist Greg Leong to draw the staff, particularly the burly underground miners, out of their comfort zones.

Initially there was uncertainty and great skepticism among the "macho" miners to swap their drills for a paintbrush but any hostility was short-lived.

At last week's celebration the enthusiasm and pride in the finished work was clearly evident with mine management, employees and community representatives sharing the stage of the Rosebery Memorial Hall with the artist, arts@work and AbaF.

arts@work manager Fiona Barber said the value of encouraging creative thinking in the workplace is rapidly being embraced as businesses recognise the benefits for their employees' wellbeing, job satisfaction, productivity and ability to think outside the square.

Fiona's enthusiasm was echoed by AbaF's acting manager for Tasmania, Tracey Gatehouse. "This has been a really exciting initiative to explore how the arts can help with Human resources issues by stimulating creativity, new thinking and communication among employees," Tracey said.

Zinifex management was keen to take on the project to extend initiatives already adopted on site to engage and empower employees.

Zinifex Rosebery general manager Fran Burgess acknowledged that the issue of heat in the underground workplace was identified by project participants.

"This was highlighted through art by some employees, indicating our education program, particularly working in heat, is being communicated across the site and will continue to do so into the future," Fran said.
And the mine's HR officer and stakeholder relation officer Christine Winskill was equally appreciative.

"This pilot project with Greg Leong and artists@work has been both satisfying and rewarding, and proves that artists in residence in a workplace (even a mine!) produces creativity and innovative thinking," Christine said.

Driller Malcolm Jago described himself as among the project "guinea pigs" and admitted he was skeptical about participating.

"The last time I drew a picture was at school and to be honest I thought Greg had no hope in hell of taking on the big, tough miners involved," he said.

"But once we met him, he put us at ease."

Malcolm's group explored the good and bad things about the workplace and he was surprised at the artist talent that surfaced.

He took Greg into the bowels of the mine to experience first-hand the noise and heat issues underground.

And he was among a group of miners who invited Greg into their homes for an insight into the far reaching relationship the mine has on families and the community.

Mine superintendent Arthur Youd was equally impressed by the project.

"It was a real challenge for me and a fair bit of ribbing went on," he said.

"It was a good thing for the company to do even though not everyone was complimentary about management."

"There were a few loaded guns but at least they could get a few things off their chests."

For the artist, the project was an amazing and rewarding experience.

It was a triple win situation - for his professional development, for the company's HR goals and the employees' creative and personal development.

"This was not an exercise in painting," Greg said. "The company required tangible HR benefits and the project was planned accordingly."

"It was a great exercise and I would do it all again."

[ IMAGE: Zinifex's rosebery mine where the project was based - click to view ]

[ IMAGE: The workshops called on the creative side of employees - click to view ]

[ IMAGE: AbaF's Tracey Gatehouse (left) Greg Leong and arts@work manager Fiona Barber - click to view ]

[ IMAGE: Zinifex staff - Christine Winskill, Peter Hannigan and Nicole Tubb - click to view ]

[ IMAGE: Arthur Youd displays his work - click to view ]

[ IMAGE: A colourful representation - click to view ]

[ IMAGE: Driller Maolcom Jago with his piece - click to view ]