Kids across the state can gain experience in creative spheres such as writing, performing arts, theatre, filmmaking and more. Photo: Creative Victoria, Victorian Government.
Victoria is encouraging young artists and creatives with a new round of the Creative Learning Partnerships (CLP) program.
The CLP program supports schools to work with artists, creative groups and organisations through residency projects, encouraging students as well as teachers to be more creative.
The initiative has a focus on helping students develop their creativity, learn new skills and learn to express themselves.
Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks encouraged schools throughout the state to apply for the next round, which is open from 8 October to 13 November.
“We’re supporting Victorian students to develop their creative skills while enhancing their education outcomes and introducing creative careers to young people,” Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks said.
CLP provides grants of $10,000 to schools, enabling them to partner with individual artists. Funds are also available up to $35,000 for schools to partner with collectives or organisations.
More than 1650 creatives have partnered with more than 1200 schools and the government estimates the program has upskilled almost 4000 teachers and brought creative learning to more than 76,000 students.
The program, operating across the state, is open to students up to Year 10 as well as VCE Vocational Majors and those in the VPC curriculum. It also gives teachers and creatives involved the chance to build their own creative skills, as they learn from teaching.
“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,” Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll said.
Projects from the last round of the program are already underway, encompassing collaborations across theatre, performing arts, writing and filmmaking.
Recipients of the program include Footscray Primary School, a school that teaches bilingually in English and Italian. The school has been exploring cultural diversity through research, writing, language and visual arts to create 3D works for an interactive performance.
Students at Warrnambool Primary School have been working alongside Sherry Johnstone, a Gunditjmara and Yorta Yorta artist, to create a mural depicting the life of a local species of wildlife, the short-fin eel. This teaches arts skills as well as First Nations history.
The Victorian Government has claimed that the state is the creative capital of the Commonwealth, a position they seek to hold with programs such as these involving young people in a diverse range of arts.
Applications are open on the Creative Victoria website.
