Youth Leadership Through Public Art

I design student-led mural programs that build connection, confidence, and culture, turning blank school walls into vibrant reflections of student voice and culture.

I’m Bohie Blackwood, a creative facilitator and mural artist with over a decade of experience transforming public spaces across Australia. I make the process simple and meaningful for schools—from co-design and planning, to hands-on student involvement, to a polished final artwork that the whole community can be proud of.

In 2025, I’m focusing on projects across Regional Victoria, including Geelong, Surf Coast Shire, Ballarat and Melbourne—but I work with schools nationwide. Each project is tailored to your school’s needs, values, and student cohort—with inclusive, trauma-aware processes that welcome every student, regardless of ability or artistic experience.

Why schools are choosing my leadership-based creative programs:

90% of teens exceed daily screen time limits

75% experience anxiety or depression symptoms

1 in 4 request access for mental health services

This isn’t about creating art for students—
it’s about shaping their environment with them.

Case Study: Raising Young Female Voices through the Frame of Sustainability

In this short video, I sit down with young female participants, aged 16-23, from various schools across Canberra, as we reflect on our collaborative street art workshop, “Scratchin’ the Surface.” In partnership with Northside Community Services and funded by the ACT Government’s TCCS, the project focused on using only recycled materials to explore the theme “Raise young female voices within the frame of sustainability.” Together, we tackled the question, “What change would you like to see in the world, and what’s stopping it?”

The final artwork was showcased during the Surface Street Art Festival at the Ainslie + Gorman Gallery in March 2022.

What’s involved

For me, the mural is just the final artefact of a much bigger process. It’s the workshops, discussions, and creative exploration that make the project meaningful.

By blending design thinking, environmental psychology, and hands-on collaboration, I ensure that each project:

  1. Engages deeply with our audience—giving people a sense of ownership over the outcome.

  2. Activates spaces with purpose—turning blank walls into empowering learning tools.

  3. Moves beyond aesthetics—provoking thought, raising awareness, and inspiring action.

Co-design sessions exploring themes like identity, wellbeing, or sustainability

  1. Hands-on mural creation (painted or digitally designed + installed)

  2. Student-led storytelling, leadership building and public art outcomes

  3. Trauma-aware and inclusive—accessible for all learning styles and abilities

  4. Suitable for upper primary and secondary (ages 12–21)

Format:
Can be delivered as a 1-week intensive, term project, or custom to your calendar.

Case Study: Discussing Mental Wellbeing Beyond Gender Stereotyping for International Women’s Day

In this short video, I share Choose to Challenge—a co-created youth street art project with Erindale College, Canberra. Over two days, eight students explored themes of empowerment and gender equity, inspired by Olympian Caroline Buchanan’s talk on overcoming negative thinking and stereotypes. The workshop included an “Expressive Type” module, using art to amplify student voice.

My Leadership Style

Exploring my role as Facilitator, Collaborator, and Creative Director

Facilitator Mindset
I create safe, inclusive spaces where every student feels heard. My programs adapt to your school’s unique culture, balancing structured guidance with student-led exploration to support voice, agency, and leadership.

Collaboration as Empowerment
Students aren’t just participants—they’re co-creators. Whether it’s a mural or creative artefact, they drive the project, building ownership, confidence, and critical thinking through authentic learning.

Leading from Behind
I guide the process with artistic and facilitation expertise, supporting students to shape a meaningful final outcome. The impact goes beyond the artwork—fostering leadership, connection, and lasting pride in their environment.

Testimonials

"Bohie’s positivity, passion, and youth-focused approach have made a huge impact. Young people feel heard, empowered, and involved every step of the way."
– Zac Noble, Youth Worker

"Bohie’s workshops give young people a real sense of accomplishment and belonging. Her approachability and talent shine through."
– Samantha Pawsey, Youth Support Worker

"Creating art with you has been inspiring. It’s opened me up to new ideas and experiences I never thought possible."
– Youth Workshop Participant

"From design to delivery, Bohie brings integrity, inclusion, and a powerful commitment to young women and the planet."
– Sophie Peer, Suburban Land Agency, ACT Government

"Bohie is organised, resourceful, and deeply committed to creating positive, empowering experiences for communities."
– Michelle Grimston, Belco Arts

"Working with Bohie has been so easy—she's flexible, responsive, and brilliant with the kids. They loved engaging with a ‘real artist’ and learning about the creative process."
– Melanie Coffill, Deputy Principal, Wanniassa School

Project Snapshots

  • Participating students getting their flex on, infront of their new creation for their high school Flexible Learning Centre

    Participating students getting their flex on, infront of their new creation for their high school Flexible Learning Centre

  • school workshop participants posing with quotes from our public space mural focus, olympic athlete, caroline buchanan for International Women's Day 2021

    School workshop participants posing with quotes from our public space mural focus, Olympic athlete, Caroline Buchanan for International Women's Day 2021

  • Teachers, students and youth workers contribute to interactive public space activation artwork

    Teachers, students and youth workers contribute to interactive public space activation artwork

  • Raising young women+ voices in a public space artwork commissioned by UNWomen

    Raising young women+ voices in a public space artwork commissioned by UNWomen

  • Athletes celebrating their cross-generation community engagement mural at local sporting field. Project design in collaboration with Faith Kerehona

    Athletes celebrating their cross-generation community engagement mural at local sporting field. Project design in collaboration with Faith Kerehona

  • College students discussing identity and gender stereotypes in a mural planning workshop

    College students discussing identity and gender stereotypes in a mural planning workshop

  • Students, community members, council workers and teachers coming together for this skatepark youth drop in hub mural project

    Students, community members, council workers and teachers coming together for this skatepark youth drop in hub mural project

  • Young people designing their own skateboard decks at a school holiday program for the Australian National Museum

    Young people designing their own skateboard decks at a school holiday program for the Australian National Museum

  • Mural workshop participants interviewed alongside Olympian by WIN news and ABC to celebrate their International Women's Day project

    Mural workshop participants interviewed alongside Olympian by WIN news and ABC to celebrate their International Women's Day project

  • "You're Somebody's Someone": A telling slogan for a community-engagement mural at local sportsfield raising awareness for youth suicide in collaboration with Sion Gryffud from Kraken Kreative

    "You're Somebody's Someone": A telling slogan for a community-engagement mural at local sportsfield raising awareness for youth suicide in collaboration with Sion Gryffud from Kraken Kreative

  • At-risk high school youth posing in front of their co-designed and co-created mural in the Wellbeing Office of their high school. This design reflected methods of relaxation to inspire calm when heightened students entered the space.

    At-risk high school youth posing in front of their co-designed and co-created mural in the Wellbeing Office of their high school. This design reflected methods of relaxation to inspire calm when heightened students entered the space.

  • Young people expressing their voices on sustainability and mental wellbeing through a temporary street art installation using only recycled materials

Impact for Students
& Schools

Creating connection, confidence, and culture

For Students:

  • A safe space to lead, collaborate, and be heard

  • Builds self-esteem, peer relationships, and creative thinking

  • A lasting sense of pride and purpose

For Schools:

  • Aligns with wellbeing, student voice and leadership frameworks

  • Co-facilitated—low lift for staff

  • A powerful and visible commitment to inclusion and culture

Got a graffiti problem?
Check out this before and after

This graffiti-covered sports pavilion was transformed with over 165 sq/m of mural art,
painted by Grade 11 students in collaboration with local seniors!

“We LOVE the mural work you did on the Narrabundah Sporting Pavilion. It talks to exactly who we are as a club - it's fun, strong, and bold. Training next to it makes us feel proud...”

Emma Steel (athlete being photographed).
Narrabundah Football Club Member.

Growing confidence

I’ve collaborated with diverse groups—including youth, community organisations, corporate teams, LGBTQI+, First Nations, differently abled, and at-risk individuals—to ignite creativity and foster belonging through co-created murals and community space projects. Participants actively shape the artwork, leaving a lasting impact on their environment.

Building together

I believe active participation in public art (off the school grounds) fosters agency, belonging, and pride in your students—while energising and contributing to the broader community. By collaborating across disciplines, cultures, and abilities, we co-create artwork that strengthens connection, communicates meaningful messages, and makes student contribution visible in shared spaces. For these projects I work closely with local council and business owners to ensure every step of the process is safe, supported, and collaboratively executed.

Selected Case Studies

  • Raising young female voices through the frame of sustainability.

    Using only recycled materials, this street art workshop focused on 6 x 16-23 year old females from various schools across Canberra, workshopping the theme “Raise young female voices within the frame of sustainability”. I asked the question “What change would you like to see in the world, and what’s stopping it?”. Created in partnership with Northside Community Services, funded by TCCS ACT Government.

    Coming Soon

  • Engaging youth to respond to themes of mental wellbeing beyond gender stereotypes with Australian Olympians for International Women’s Day

    Co-created Youth Street Art project workshopping with 8 students from Erindale College workshopping the theme “Choose to Challenge” with keynote talk from female Olympian Caroline Buchanan on how to overcome negative thinking and gender stereotypes. The workshop included a module on “Expressive Type”, and how to use art to empower ourselves.

    View Project
  • Co-designing, and co-creating for a mentorship in visual communication design

    Co-designing, and co-creating for a youth mentorship in visual communication design

    In this project, I co-designed and co-created a mural art project with 7 students at Gunners Place youth centre. Together, we workshopped the mural design, ensuring it aligned with the centre's themes. The mural was painted over 3 days in May 2021 with 6 female students from nearby schools, creating a collaborative artwork that reflects their voices.

    Coming Soon

Ready to explore what this could look like at your school?

Invite me for a quick visit to chat through your school’s vision and how we can work together.