Over recent months, we have had the privilege of working with Professor Jane Davidson and former RAV employee Anna Kennedy-Borissow at the Creativity and Wellbeing Research Initiative (CAWRI) at the University of Melbourne as they speak with some of our RAV Members about the transformative power of arts education.
Growing up with access to the arts fosters wellbeing through creative expression, builds confidence, nurtures curiosity, and connects young people to each other and to their communities. It sparks invaluable life skills such as collaboration, imagination and persistence. And for some, it may lead to a career in the cultural and creative industries.
Through consultations with RAV Members, we have learnt that across regional Victoria, creative practitioners and arts organisations are not only pursuing their own artistic practice and goals, they are also passing their skills, knowledge and passion on to the next generation. Arts education is core to how they contribute to the cultural life of their communities.
Yet, as CAWRI’s consultations have reinforced, the landscape is shifting. Funding and support for high-quality arts education has been steadily diminishing, particularly within school settings. Many regional young people are missing out on meaningful creative learning simply because of where they live.
Through CAWRI’s conversations with regional artists and organisations, a clear picture has emerged of regional creatives actively working to fill these gaps. They are developing their own programs, collaborating with local schools, designing workshops, mentoring young people, and ensuring that children and teens have access to formative creative experiences in their own communities. Their commitment is helping to keep arts education alive across the state.
In response, CAWRI is developing a pilot program to provide professional development support for regional arts educators, including the evaluation of existing programs. This work aims to strengthen the skills and capacity of regional practitioners who are teaching, mentoring, and inspiring young people in the regions.
Early in the new year, CAWRI and RAV will distribute a statewide survey to arts educators to build a deeper understanding of the sector’s needs. The survey will ask about what’s working, where the gaps are, and how we can collectively advocate for stronger, more sustainable arts education opportunities in regional Victoria.
Arts education shapes futures. It strengthens communities. Thanks to the work being done by the CAWRI team and the insight of our Members, we have a clearer picture than ever of the work being done, and the work still needed, to ensure that every regional young person can access the creative experiences that help them thrive.
Image: Students from Merino Consolidated School and Dartmoor Primary School participating in Mabel & Switch, a RAV 2024 Creative Learning program
Posted 6 December 2025