The Andrews Labor Government is bringing expert theatre makers, musicians, performers, animators and artists to schools across Victoria, providing diverse and inspiring learning experiences for Victoria's young minds.
Celebrating 40 years in 2022, Creative Learning Partnerships place artists in residence at primary and secondary schools throughout Victoria, working with students from foundation to Year 10 on creative projects.
Director and producer Ching Ching Ho is participating in this year's program, working with Grade 3 students from Abbotsford Primary School on a creative bilingual project in Mandarin and English.
Other schools are partnering with creatives on projects that explore culture, history, literacy, the environment and more, using creative disciplines including music, storytelling, theatre and costume making, and sculpture.
Bellbrae Primary School will explore local bushland and fauna through drawing, collage and photography, Coburg Primary School will create artworks and costumes while learning about composting, and local Wadawurrung artist Billy Jay O'Toole will give Belmont High School students an insight into First People's culture.
The program has included a range of celebrated Australian artists including Hazel Edwards, prized author of Australian children's book classic, There's a Hippopotamus On Our Roof Eating Cake, who was an artist in residence through the 1980s and early 1990s.
Artists will take up residence at schools in Abbotsford, the Surf Coast, Geelong, Broadmeadows, Cairnlea, Coburg, Melton, Niddrie, Dandenong, Phillip Island, Ballarat, Nerrina, East Gippsland, Bendigo, Horsham and Warrnambool.
Delivered in partnership with the Department of Education and Training, Creative Learning Partnerships provide $315,000 in grants for projects at 19 schools across the state.
Creative Learning Partnerships represents Creative Victoria's longest running grants program with more than 1,500 creatives working at 1,200 schools, bringing creativity to the forefront of learning for 70,000 students since 1982.
For more information on the program and for a list of recipients visit creative.vic.gov.au.
As stated by Minister for Creative Industries Danny Pearson
"Bringing creativity into the classroom has boundless benefits for students, giving them new, skills, confidence and bringing the curriculum to life in new ways. It also provides inspiration and career development for artists."
"We're creating rewarding jobs opportunities for Victorian creatives, while delivering inspiring educational environments that provide ongoing benefits to children across the state."
As stated by Minister for Education James Merlino
"For 40 years this program has offered exciting learning opportunities to inspire students, teachers and the whole school community - and we're proud to support it for many more years to come."
As stated by author Hazel Edwards
"Creative Learning Partnerships inspire students, giving a sense of achievement, developing problem-solving skills, and enabling knowledge sharing across languages, creative disciplines and cultures. All while having fun!"
