Not so for Astrid Archer.

The year 10 student at Eden Marine High School’s first taste of the workforce was so good, she just kept going back for more, enrolled in a new school-to-work program at the school.

Now, after just a few months at the Bega Valley Regional Gallery, Astrid has co-curated her first exhibition.

“I really wanted to do an exhibition looking at mental health aspect because I knew October is Mental Health Month,” she said.

“I knew there were a lot of paintings in the gallery’s collection that were mostly landscape, and seeing as the South Coast has so many nice beaches and amazing coastline, I thought it would be really nice to capture that with an exhibition.

“‘Undisturbed’ is all seascapes, and I hope I have created a space where individuals are able to relax, enjoy the works, take a deep breath and be at peace with not only themselves but also the people around them.”

The pop-up exhibition is open at the Bermagui Library and Community Centre until the end of the month.

Gallery curator Iain Dawson said it is important for the gallery to have the works  it holds on behalf of the community out and being enjoyed all over the Shire.

“Astrid has chosen some of the most beautiful works in our collection for her exhibition,” Mr Dawson said.

“She really wanted to celebrate our stunning coastline and waterways and the life within and around them - my favourite is Lee Cruse’s amazing work ‘Jungar Hunting’.

“Over the coming year, we will hold pop-up exhibitions from the collection in the Shire libraries and other community spaces.”

Working at the gallery is something Astrid hopes will kick-start her future aspirations.

She plans to study 3 Unit Art during the HSC in two years’ time, and has her sights set on attending the Australian National University’s Canberra School of Art.

Having been a prize winner at last year’s Festival de YOOF Tube, Astrid is comfortable with a camera in hand and enjoys painting, but drawing remains her medium of choice.

She said learning from the likes of Mr Dawson will stand her in good stead.

“He’s so inspiring and he talks so passionately about art,” she said.

“It’s really awesome to always have his support, and even if I’m doing a major artwork for a school assignment, he’ll always be there to give me his opinion and help out.

“I now go up there every Thursday, and I’ve been doing lots of different things there, from filing to setting up for exhibitions and now co-curating this exhibition.

“I’d just like to say ‘thank you’ to Iain, [and fellow staff] Ben [Thomas]and Helena [Bezzina] for helping me set it up, and everyone else I’ve met and worked with at the gallery.

“It’s such a great opportunity and I’m really thankful and grateful.”