37 creative workers have begun their placement in 32 government schools across Victoria from this week as part of the Creative Workers in Schools program.
The Creative Workers in Schools program, delivered by Regional Arts Victoria in partnership with Department of Education and Training and Creative Victoria through the support of the Victorian Government’s Working for Victoria initiative, is providing the opportunity for 150 creative industry workers to undertake a six-month residency in Victorian government schools, including special schools.
Minister for Employment, Jaala Pulford, attended the launch at Brunswick North West Primary School on Monday morning.
“We’re giving kids the opportunity to learn from some of our state’s best artists, designers, musicians, filmmakers and writers and helping creatives to get back into work.”
“Victoria’s professional artists and creatives are renowned the world over and we’re giving them the opportunity to help the next generation of artists to get excited about their work in the classroom.”
From Apollo Bay to Altona, Birregurra to Broadmeadows, Numurkah to North Melbourne, Paynesville to Point Cook, the first stream of matches reaches across regional and metropolitan locations.
Animators, circus performers, designers, fashion designers, filmmakers, landscape architects, musicians, podcasters, poets, puppeteers, sculptors, theatre makers, and visual artists are amongst the first creative workers to begin their six-month placements this Term.
Dave Rogers, Creative Workers in Schools Statewide Program Manager at Regional Arts Victoria, said the diversity and reach of the first stream of projects was inspiring.
“It’s a real thrill to see such innovative and experienced creative workers starting to head into schools to share their craft, talent and enthusiasm,” noted Rogers.
“The teachers that we are talking to are already telling us how excited they are to host the creative workers in their school and that there is a palpable buzz amongst the students. We’re looking forward to seeing these exciting and no doubt surprising creative projects come to life.”
Stream Two of the program, for placements beginning Term 2, 2021, are now open and close 5pm, Monday 22 February. For more information, please visit rav.net.au/creative-workers-in-schools
FULL LIST OF CREATIVE WORKERS AND SCHOOLS
- Musician Amie Sexton will work with students at Gordon Primary School on a song-writing and recording project;
- Lucy Parkinson and Gonzalo Varela will partner with Fish Creek and District Primary School to deliver a range of visual arts, puppetry and sculpture programs;
- Using music, dance, wearable art, costume and circus, Erick Mitsak, Johanna Fairley and Tara Gooding will complete their residency at Brunswick North West Primary School;
- Country musicians David and Merelyn Carter will be based at Middle Kinglake Primary School undertaking a music writing and recording project;
- Multi-disciplinary installation and sound artists Ben Opie and Stephanie Arnold will work with the students of Forest Hill College;
- Geoffrey Ricardo, Heidi Weatherald and Danniel Smith will reside at Seaholme Primary School delivering a series of sound and storytelling workshops;
- Anjo Murray will support students at Elwood College to script, design and film their own stop motion animated films;
- Christopher Summers will devise a playwriting project with the students of Eltham High School;
- Visual artist Deanne Howlett will be placed with Paynesville Primary School on a project that explores social connections, resilience and creativity;
- Desiree Riny will use her experience in industrial design to lead a project with Homestead Senior Secondary College;
- Elizabeth James with work with the Northern College of Arts and Technology on a filmmaking and storytelling residency;
- Landscape architect Gavin Pocock and the students of Mount Egerton Primary School will complete a garden project;
- Jacinda OSullivan will complete a theatre-based residency at St Arnaud Secondary College;
- Musician Jarrad Brown will use music as a language during a residency at Carlton Gardens Primary School;
- Jaycob Campbell will explore a visual arts project in their native language Auslan with the Victorian College for the Deaf;
- Video artist Jim Coad will complete an audiovisual residency at Gisborne Secondary College;
- Joel Martin will be based at Fitzroy High School working on a podcasting project;
- Ceramicist Kerry Punton will undertake a residency exploring visual arts initiatives with Epsom Primary School;
- Louise Brown will work with Alvie Primary School and Birregurra Primary School to build a musical soundscape;
- Lyall Brooks will deliver a multi-faceted theatre and performance program at Numurkah Secondary College;
- Visual and video production artist Mark Egan will be placed at Mernda Park Primary School;
- A puppetry project will be the focus of the residency for Peter Davidson at St Helena Secondary College;
- Sculptor and storyteller Fingle Sin will deliver a mapping project with the students of Apollo Bay P-12 College;
- Hip-hop artist Robert Tremlett, better known as Mantra, will create music with the students of Hallam Senior Secondary College;
- Using comedy, clowning, circus and the Italian theatrical tradition of Commedia dell’Arte, Rosa Campagnaro will share skills with the students of North Melbourne Primary School;
- Safak Gurboga will devise a visual arts piece in collaboration with the students at Reservoir Primary School;
- Scott Sneddon will act as poet-in-residence at Hamlyn Banks Primary School;
- Shanrah Austin will create wearable sculpture during their time with Hume Valley School;
- Dancer Sheena Chundee will choreograph something special with the students of Tinternvale Primary School;
- Shelley Matulick will create YouTube video stars with the pupils at Kallista Primary School;
- Dale Gorfinkel will devise activities around listening, sound making and performance with Deer Park West Primary School.
Media Contact: Alli Walker 0460845764 | awalker@rav.net.au
Image: Circus Oz Workshops. Image credit: Charlie Kinross2019