Victorian Minister for Creative Industries, Colin Brooks, is encouraging schools across the state to apply for the next round of the Creative Learning Partnerships program, which supports schools to work with artists, creative collectives and organisations through residency projects.
“We’re supporting Victorian students to develop their creative skills while enhancing their education outcomes and introducing creative careers to young people,” said Mr Brooks.
The program provides grants of $10,000 for schools to partner with an individual artist, or $35,000 to partner with a creative collective or organisation. It has connected more than 1,650 creatives with more than 1,200 schools, upskilled almost 4,000 teachers and brought creativity and learning together for more than 76,000 Victorian students.
The program helps students develop their creativity, express themselves and learn new skills, supporting Foundation to Year 10, VCE Vocational Major and the VPC curriculum. It also provides opportunities for both the teachers and the creative professionals involved to build their creative skills.
Projects from the previous round of the program are underway, and include diverse collaborations across theatre, performing arts, filmmaking and writing.
Previous recipients include Footscray Primary School, a bilingual Italian school, which explores cultural diversity through language, using research, writing and visual art to create 3D inflatable artworks for an interactive performance.
Students at Warrnambool Primary School have also been working with Gunditjmara and Yorta Yorta artist Sherry Johnstone to create a mural depicting the life of a local species of short-fin eel, learning about First Nations history and culture.
“Building creative skills is crucial for young people to help them develop stronger cognitive abilities and better problem-solving skills – preparing them to become the resilient, innovative leaders of the future,” said Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Ben Carroll.
Applications for the program open on Wednesday 8 October and close on Thursday 13 November. For more information visit creative.vic.gov.au.
